MACON, Ga. --- The Chattanooga Mocs softball team couldn't tame the Mercer bats in a rubber match of a three-game series during the opening weekend of Southern Conference play, falling to the Bears 9-2 on Sunday.
With the loss, the Mocs fall to 10-22 overall and 1-2 in the SoCon. Mercer improves to 16-20, 2-1 in conference action.
Game Recap | Mercer 9, Chattanooga 2
The Bears started the scoring in the bottom of the first after a walk and double put runners on second and third with one out, eventually scoring both runs on a single and sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning, in a first and third situation, Mercer double stole the runners and plated another run, giving them a 3-0 lead after the first. They added a run in the second by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Mercer continued the scoring affair with a pair of runs in the home half of the third when a triple to the gap scored both runs, extending their lead to 6-0. The Bears added a three-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth to build a 9-0 advantage.
With the Mocs facing a potential mercy rule in the top of the fifth,
Amanda Beltran led the inning off with a solo homerun, her fourth of the year, deep over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 9-1.
Hayleigh Weissenbach came to the plate two batters later and was hit by a pitch with one out, and advanced to third after a wild pitch and single from
Maddy Adams. Weissenbach scored on a sacrifice fly from
Aly Walker to fight off the eight-run rule and cut the Mercer lead to 9-2.
Celie Hudson (1-1) suffered the loss in her second start of the season as she tossed 4.0 innings and allowed 10 hits, nine runs (all earned) while striking out one.
Alex Connell came in relief of Hudson, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings while allowing three hits.
Chattanooga was out-hit by Mercer 13-6 and left eight runners on base. Six different Mocs registered a hit in the loss. Beltran went 1-for-3 with a homerun, RBI and run scored. Weissenbach also went 1-for-3 while recording a double and run scored. Adams joined in at 1-for-3 as did
Jesslyn Stockard and
Brook Womack.
Season Stats & Notes Update Thru Sunday
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Amanda Beltran belted a solo HR in the fifth inning ... fourth HR of the season ... 12th career HR for the sophomore ... 13 RBIs this season ... 42 career RBIs.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, March 29 - at Tennessee State 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 - vs. Samford* (DH) 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 - vs. Samford* 2:00 p.m.
*- Southern Conference
