BOX SCORE (PDF)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The fourth-seeded Samford softball team dropped a 5-3 decision to fifth-seeded Mercer in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament Wednesday morning at Frost Stadium.
With the loss, Samford falls to 22-35, while Mercer improves to 25-29. Samford will now play an elimination game Thursday at 7 p.m. (CT), against either Furman, Chattanooga, ETSU or Western Carolina. Mercer will now take on top-seeded UNCG Thursday at 11:30 a.m. (CT).
For Samford in the game,
Shelby Maze and
Kathryn Jackson had a hit and an RBI each.
Grey Adams (10-14) pitched the complete 7.0 innings, giving up five runs, just two earned, on seven hits to take the loss in the circle for Samford.
Meghan Rud and Taylor Rodgers had two hits and an RBI each to lead Mercer. Caroline Taylor homered for the Bears, going 1-for-3 with one RBI. Megan Bilgri (12-7) earned the win, tossing 4.0 innings, giving up three runs, just one earned, on six hits. Stella Preston pitched the final 3.0 innings without allowing a hit to pick up her school-record eighth save of the season.
Samford jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Maze led the inning off with a bunt single. Maze then moved to second base on an infield single by
Whitney Hinton, and third base on an error. Maze then scored on the throw when Hinton stole second base. Hinton later scored on a single by Jackson to give Samford a 2-0 lead.
Mercer put its first run of the game on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. With one out in the inning, Taylor homered to left-center field to cut the Samford lead to 2-1.
Samford added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Kelsey Royalty doubled and advanced to third base on an error with one out to get things started. Maze then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Royalty for a 3-1 Samford advantage.
Mercer took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. A walk and back-to-back Samford errors loaded the bases for Mercer with no outs. Rud then singled to drive in Emma Andrew to make the score 3-2. Abby Walsh then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Shiala Warren to knot the score at 3-3. Rodgers later singled to drive in Danielle Castleberry for a 4-3 Mercer lead. Quirisa Mauga then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Rud to make the score 5-3.
