Bears Finish First Day at University of Florida

Friday, March 10

Gainesville,FL

10:30 AM

Mercer University

6-15

Rutgers University

17-4

Mercer

Rutgers

Bears Finish First Day at University of Florida

3/10/2023 6:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Gainesville, FL – The Bears concluded their first day at the Bubly Invitational at the University of Florida this afternoon going 0-2.

How It Happened
Rutgers University
       Rebeca Laudino started the Bears off strong with a single to the right. She advanced thanks to a SAC bunt from Parris Wiggs and was brought home by Kylie Helm. Rutgers got a run in and finished the first tied at one. Both teams recorded one hit and left one on base in the second. The Scarlet Knights picked up base in the bottom of the third with three hits on three runs to bring the score to 4-1. Grace Prom and Emma Dorval were able to get on base and were brought home after an amazing triple down the right-field line by Laudino. The Bears would finish the fourth inning 4-3 after a strong defensive stand.
    Alyssa Woods picked up her first hit of the day but was left on base after a flied out down the right field line. Grace Taylor stepped into the circle for the Bears and Rutgers picked up one run on no hits. Mercer did not pick up any hits or runs in the top of the sixth. Taylor picked up her first K of the game against the third batter in the lineup. Rutgers homer and finished out the sixth 6-3. The Bears were served a three up three down and the Scarlet Knights took the game in 7, 6-3.

#8 University of Florida
    The Gators started strong with a three up three down served and three runs on three hits in the first. Bailey Ledvina record the first hit of the game with a single to right field. Madi Wicker then singled to third, but the Bears could not bring them home. The University of Florida homered twice in the bottom of the second to further their lead 8-0, but were shut down with a strikeout from Wicker .
    Mercer started to heat up in the top of the third. Woods and Laudino singled to get on base and a flied out from Helm sent Woods home for teh first run of the game. Ledvina singled to bring home Laudino to finish out the inning with the Bears trailing 8-2. The Gators responded with five runs on four hits to conclude the third 13-2. Back on the offense, Morgan Hall came home on a fielders choice after being hit by a pitch to get on base to get the Bears trailing 13-3. UF received one more on the board before a 1-2-3 for the Bears to take the game in five innings,14-3.

Up Next
    The Bears will have their second day at the Bubly Invitational in Gainesville, FL tomorrow, March 11. Mercer will face the University of Florida at 11:00 a.m. and Rutgers University at 4:00 p.m. before facing the University of Louisiana on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Follow the Bears
    For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MUSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.