Game one box score
Game two box score
MACON, Ga. – Mercer senior pitcher
Lacey Richardson limited a potent Florida Gulf Coast offense to just seven hits en route to a complete-game win, and sophomore
Emi Sherrill drew a bases loaded, walk-off base on balls in game two to help the Bears claim a split in Friday afternoon’s Atlantic Sun softball doubleheader at Sikes Field.
Mercer fell by a count of 7-5 in game one, but rebounded to earn a 4-3 win in game two.
The split moves Mercer to 25-12 (4-2 A-Sun) on the year while FGCU suffers only its second loss in 32 games, falling to 38-6 (8-2 A-Sun). FGCU is ranked No. 19 in the most recent Ultimate College Softball Poll.
“Well that second game was huge for us, any time you beat FGCU it’s a good win,” said Mercer head coach Mike Raynor. “We were in both games, and just came up a little short in game one. In game two, we never gave up and it was neat to win that game late.”
Richardson struck out six Eagle batters and allowed three earned runs to improve to 8-5 on the season. Richardson’s game two counterpart, FGCU senior Dana Frantz, lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. Sophomore Morgan Campen took the loss and is now 2-1 on the year.
In game two, the contest was knotted at three in the final inning when Mercer freshman Sara Stukes got a rally started with a leadoff double. After freshman Jenny Goodman walked, senior Page Raynor stroked her fourth single of the day to load the bases for Sherrill.
Both teams scored three runs in the fifth inning of game two. After the Eagles took the 3-0 advantage, Mercer sophomore Amanda Santa Maria connected on a solo homer, and later Goodman contributed a pair of RBI to tie the game.
Mercer out-hit FGCU 8-7 in game two.
In game one, FGCU held a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning when Mercer junior Holly Oglesbee crushed a three-run home run to pull the teams even at four apiece. FGCU responded, scoring three in the top of the seventh on home runs by seniors Jessica Paez and Cheyenne Jenks.
Mercer scored once more in the bottom of the seventh inning when senior Cassy Neilson punched an RBI single back through the middle.
Mercer sophomore Jenni Holtz took the game one loss, yielding 11 hits and seven earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Holtz falls to 16-6 on the season. FGCU Catherine McDaniel was credited with the victory, allowing four runs over six innings. McDaniel is 17-0 in 2009.
FGCU out-hit Mercer 11-10 in game one. Each team posted 18 hits in the doubleheader.
Raynor finished a combined four-for-five with an RBI in both games. Oglesbee, Neilson and Santa Maria all had three hits in the doubleheader.
Mercer returns to action on April 4, hosting A-Sun rival Stetson. The doubleheader is scheduled for noon.