Furman Takes Both Ends Of Twinbill With Mercer

Saturday, April 11

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

16-22, 4-6

Furman

8-31, 8-31

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Furman	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	6	9	0
Mercer	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	4	5	0

Furman Takes Both Ends Of Twinbill With Mercer

4/11/2026 8:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Visiting Furman used a first-inning grand slam to key a 6-4 win in the series opener, and then hit a go-ahead homer in the fourth inning of the nightcap to fuel a 5-1 victory that gave the Paladins a series-opening doubleheader sweep of Mercer on Saturday at Sikes Field.

The setbacks snapped an eight-game series win streak for the Bears (16-23, 4-7 SoCon) who had not tasted defeat against the Paladins since a 1-0 setback amid the 2023 season. The Paladins (9-31, 3-8) have now won three of their last four outings, and picked up their first weekend series win against the Bears since taking the first two games of the 2018 series in Macon.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Furman 6, Mercer 4
PITCHERS	WP: Kristyn Embler (6-10) LP: Grace Jones (4-4) Save: None

GAME 2 FINAL	Furman 5, Mercer 1
PITCHERS	WP: Jamison Noonan (2-9) LP: Katheryn Rearley (3-5) Save: None

RECORDS	Mercer 16-23 (4-7 SoCon); Furman 9-31 (3-8 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
TOP 1	Furman loaded the bases with its first four at-bats, and Rachel Hawkins put the Paladins up for good when she clubbed a 1-and-1 offering from MU starter Grace Jones over the wall in centerfield.
BOT 3	Meredith Wayland drew a 4-pitch walk to lead off the frame and eventually advanced over to third base on a 1-out sacrifice bunt from Grace Jones. Olivia Lenzen pulled the Bears to within a run four pitcher later on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
TOP 6	MU reliever Grace Roark retired the first two batters she faced, but Furman got consecutive base hits from AB Cipalla and Kristyn Embler to set the table for a clutch 2-run double to the gap in left field that put the visitors up 6-3.

KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
BOT 2	Jessie Taylor drew a 4-pitch walk to lead off the inning and used two wild pitches to move within 60 feet of home plate. An ill-time passed ball brought the run across to give the hosts their first lead of the afternoon.
TOP 4	AB Cipalla hit a leadoff single and Sylvia Burroughs hit a 2-run homer two batters later to put the visitors ahead for good.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	FU LEADERS (GAME 1)
Olivia Lenzen 1-2, SF, HR, 2 RBI Isabel Fernandez 2-3, 2B, RBI Rachel Sysum 1-3, 2B, RBI Avery Barton 1-3	Rachel Hawkins 2-4, HR, 4 RBI AB Cipalla 3-4, 2 R Sylvia Burroughs 1-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI Kristyn Embler 7.0 IP, 2 K

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	UTC LEADERS (GAME 2)
Jessie Taylor 1-2, BB, R Olivia Lenzen 1-2, BB Megan Loughren 1-3 Meredith Wayland 1-3	Sylvia Burroughs 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI Kate Stolzfus 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R AB Cipalla 2-3, HBP, RBI Jamison Noonan 6.0 IP, 0 R, 2 K

UP NEXT
The Bears will look to salvage their weekend series with Furman when the two square off in Sunday's series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Sikes Field and admission is free.

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SUPPORT THE BEARS
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