Mercer softball on a roll to open conference play

The Mercer softball team traveled to Deland, Fla. last weekend where they went 2-1 with Stetson on Patricia Wilson Softball Field. They dropped game one in a disappointing 8-4 game, but came back and won the next two 8-4, 12-4.
The Bears started off slow in the first game on Saturday and weren’t able to figure out Stetson’s starting pitcher until the fifth inning where they finally were able to get four runs on the board.
The Hatters ran across home one more time in the bottom of the fifth making the score 8-4. This would be the score the remainder of the game, ending the Bears’ four game conference winning streak.
In the top of the fifth, Mercer had back-to-back clutch hits from senior Sarah Santana and junior Krista Kennedy. Santana roped a two-run RBI double to left center that scored both junior McKenzie Woody and freshman Kaytlin Haney.
Kennedy followed that up with her eighth homerun of the season, with a two-run shot to left center. Despite their efforts late in the game, the Bears were not able to overcome their early deficit to beat the Hatters.
For the rest of the weekend, the Orange and Black dominated. Junior Randi Rea posted a pair of homeruns and four RBI in the second game leading them to a victory, while she continued to shine in the third game with Kennedy, accounting for seven of the Bears’ 12 runs.
Senior Kerri Nidiffer received the start in the circle in game two while junior Julia Rice registered the start in game three.
Mercer returns to action this week with a short respite from conference play hosting Florida A&M on Wednesday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.