Bears Top Dayton, Drexel To Open 2024 Season

Friday, February 9

Macon, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

Mercer University

Dayton

2/10/2024 12:36:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

MACON – The Mercer softball team combined for 26 hits, including six of the extra-base variety, and crossed the plate 16 times on the way to registering wins over Dayton and Drexel to open their season on Friday at Sikes Field. The Bears topped the Flyers by a 5-3 count in their season opener, before holding off Drexel, 11-9, in Friday's nightcap of the 2024 Heart of Georgia Classic.

The results gave the Bears their first 2-0 start under head coach Lindsay Fico, while the afternoon win over the Atlantic-10 favorite Flyers (1-1) gave MU a season-opening victory for the second-straight season. Drexel (0-2) fell to 1-2 all-time in the series with the Orange & Black.

Junior Kassidy Moore shattered school records for both home runs (3) and RBI (9) on a 4-for-4 night in the scoring melee against the Dragons, while junior Tori Hedgecock homered and drove in three runs in the triumph over Dayton. SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year Grace Taylor (1-0) grabbed the win in the opener with a complete game 5-hitter.

DOUBLEHEADER SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	Mercer 5, Dayton 3
PITCHERS	WP: Grace Taylor (1-0) LP: Sarah Bailitz (0-1)

GAME 2 FINAL	Mercer 11, Drexel 9
PITCHERS	WP: Madi Wicker (1-0) LP: Allison Hoppe (0-1) Save: Gabby Ellis (1)

RECORDS	Mercer (2-0, 0-0 SoCon); Dayton (1-1, 0-0 A-10); Drexel (0-2, 0-0 CAA)

KEY INNINGS VS. DAYTON
TOP 3	Dayton juiced the bases with its first three at-bats, then got on the board via a RBI groundout from Maddie Kapsimalis. Katie Reeg's 2-run single later in the frame stretched UD's advantage out to 3-1.
BOT 3	Hallie Langford singled to start the frame, then moved into scoring position on an ensuing stolen base. That set the table for a game-tying homer from Tori Hedgecock – a 2-run shot that cleared the centerfield wall by 13 feet. The Bears went ahead for good later in the frame on a 2-out RBI single from Taylor Rogers.

KEY INNINGS VS. DREXEL
BOT 1	Mercer loaded the bases with its first three at-bats to set the table for a grand slam from Kassidy Moore that cleared the centerfield wall by 13 feet. Janessa Plummer's 2-out RBI single later in the frame stretched the lead out to 5-0.
TOP 2	Lily Meunick saw an 11-pitch at-bat to lead off the second, but still managed to put the Dragons on the board with a solo shot to right field. Grace Abbonizio's 2-run blast later in the frame pulled the visitors to within a pair of runs, 5-3, heading to the bottom of the inning.
BOT 3	The Bears put together a 2-out rally in the third inning to distance themselves again. Tori Hedgecock laced a RBI single through the right side to plate Janessa Plummer from third base, and Kassidy Moore followed with a 2-run moon shot to centerfield that stretched the lead back out to six runs, 9-3.

MU LEADERS VS. DAYTON	UD LEADERS VS. MERCER
Hallie Langford 3-4, 2 R Tori Hedgecock 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI Taylor Rogers 2-3, RBI Grace Taylor 7.0 IP, 5 H	Katie Reeg 1-3, 2 RBI Emily Daniel 1-3, R Emma Schutter 1-3, R

MU LEADERS VS. DREXEL	DU LEADERS VS. MERCER
Kassidy Moore 4-4, 3 HR, 9 RBI Tori Hedgecock 2-3, 2B, 3 R Janessa Plummer 3-4, RBI, R Alyssa Woods 2-4, R	Grace Abbonizio 2-3, HR, 3 RBI Kylee Guerrera 2-4, 2 R Lily Meuninck 1-4, HR Ameryn Humble 2-4, R

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out their portion of play at the Heart of Georgia Classic with two rematches on Saturday at Sikes Field. MU is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Drexel, before battling Dayton again at 5 p.m.

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