Bears Halve Series-Opening Twinbill At Western Carolina

Friday, April 24

Cullowhee, N.C.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

18-26, 6-10

Western Carolina

32-18, 11-5

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

Bears Halve Series-Opening Twinbill At Western Carolina

4/24/2026 6:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Visiting Mercer tacked up e pair of multi-run innings to help support a solid outing from Grace Roark on the way to a 5-2 win in Friday's opener, but fell on the wrong end of a 3-0 shutout in the nightcap on the way to series-opening doubleheader split with Western Carolina on Friday at the Catamount Softball Complex.

The Bears (18-27, 6-11 SoCon) used the Game 1 decision to snap a four-game road losing streak, while also pushing their win streak in their series out to four games as well. The Game 2 loss for the Catamounts (33-18, 12-5) was just their second setback in the last dozen outings.

SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Mercer 5, Western Carolina 2
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Roark (4-9) LP: Amanda Fulton (15-6) Save: None

GAME 2 FINAL	Western Carolina 3, Mercer 0
PITCHERS	WP: Briony Bunsic (5-1) LP: Cloe Pless (0-1) Save: None

RECORDS	Mercer 18-27 (7-11 SoCon); Western Carolina 33-18 (12-5 SoCon)

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
TOP 4	Mariyah Sanchez tacked up Mercer's first hit of the afternoon with a leadoff single, and Olivia Lenzen gave the Bears the lead for good two at-bats later when she leaned into a 2-strike offering from WCU starter Amanda Fulton and deposited it over the left field fence.
TOP 5	Mercer put together a 3-run rally with two outs in the fifth to extend their lead. Meredith Wayland and Mariyah Sanchez hit consecutive 2-out RBI doubles, and Megan Loughren capped the inning outburst with a RBI single down the left field line.

KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
BOT 1	Lily Bell doubled to lead off the home half of the first inning, advanced to third on an ill-timed error by the Mercer outfield and eventually scored seven pitches later on Taylor Waitley that gave the hosts the lead for good.

MU LEADERS (GAME 1)	WCU LEADERS (GAME 1)
Mariyah Sanchez 2-4, 2B, RBI Meredith Wayland 1-2, BB, 2B, RBI Olivia Lenzen 1-3, HR, 2 RBI Grace Roark CG, 7 H, 2 K	Becka Wonsick 2-3, HR Tate Stewman 1-3, 2B, RBI Maya McPherson 1-3, BB, R Lily Bell 1-3, BB

MU LEADERS (GAME 2)	WCU LEADERS (GAME 2)
Mariyah Sanchez 2-3, 2B Rachel Sysum 2-3	Taylor Waitley 2-4, 2 RBI Amari Bruce 2-3, 2B Tate Stewman 1-3, HR Briony Bunsic CG, 4 H, 4 K

UP NEXT
It will be a winner-take-all opportunity for Mercer and Western Carolina on Saturday morning when the squads square off in the series rubber game at the Catamount Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

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