MOCS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT; MERCER TAKES TWO IN SOCON OPENER
MACON, Ga. --- The Chattanooga softball team was swept by Mercer in the Southern Conference-opening weekend for the Mocs. Both games were a one-run decision with a walk-off bunt in the opener and a near comeback in the second.
Presley Williamson was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base on her lone try. Olivia Lipari and Kailey Snell each hit .286 and Jayce Purdy hit a solo shot in the opening game.
Chattanooga's pitchers combined four 12 strikeouts on the day along with seven hits and four walks.
MERCER 3, CHATTANOOGA 2
Chattanooga put a pair of runs on the board on solo shots from Jayce Purdy and Presley Williamson, but it would be a bunt that would decide the game.
The Bears scored first in the third and the Mocs answered with a home run off the bat of Jayce Purdy over the fence in center field. Presley Williamson broke the tie with a lead-off solo shot in the top of the seventh, putting UTC up 2-1. Hannah Pfeifer reached on a single, but the Mocs were unable to get the insurance run.
With the Mocs leading in the bottom of the seventh with one out, Mercer had runners at second and third. Kaili Phillips fielded an infield hit and held the runner at third before throwing the batter out at first. However, the runner went and the throw to home didn't get the runner and tied the game 2-2.
The next batter bunted the ball toward first and the runner at third slid home for the game winning run.
SCORING SUMMARY
B3rd: Ledvina singled to left field, RBI; Laudino scored.
T4th: Purdy homered to center field, RBI.
T7th: Williamson homered to left field, RBI.
B7th: Woods grounded out to 3b, RBI; Sumner advanced to third; Dorval scored.
B7th: Laudino singled to first base, bunt RBI; Sumner scored.
MERCER 4, CHATTANOOGA 3
After falling behind 4-0, the Mocs grabbed a run in the sixth and added a pair in the seventh, falling 4-3 to Mercer in the second game of the day.
Kaili Phillips started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. A ground out placed her at third and she scored on a groundout to second by Williamson making it 4-1 in favor of Mercer.
Alyssa Lavdis struck out the first two Bears and forced a ground out to go three-up, three down in the bottom of the inning.
Riley Kokinda started the inning off reaching on an error. Kailey Snell's double to left put runners in scoring position. With one out, Olivia Lipari singled to shortstop and Kokinda came in to cut the Mercer lead in half, 4-2.
Phillips walked to load the bases. Sellers reached on a fielder's choice and Snell scored to bring the Mocs to within a run. The rally fell short on a ground out to end the game.
SCORING SUMMARY
B1st: Ladvina singled through the left side, RBI; Laudino scored.
B3rd: Helm grounded out to ss, RBI; Barton advanced to second; Laudino scored.
B4th: Woods singled through the right side, RBI; Hall scored.
B5th: Hedgecock walked, RBI; Wiggs advanced to third; Barton scored on a wild pitch.
T6th: Williamson grounded out to 2b, RBI; Duran advanced to second; Phillips scored, unearned.
T7th: Lipari singled to shortstop, RBI; Kokinda scored.
T7th: Sellers reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Phillips out at second ss to 2b; Lipari advanced to third; Snell scored.
Chattanooga evens it's overall record at 15-15 and starts the SoCon season at 0-2. Mercer improves to 11-23 and 2-3 in league play. The two teams will close out the series Sunday at Sikes Field at 1:00 p.m. Follow the game on live stats at GoMocs.com.
