MACON, Ga. -- The Morehead State Softball team had a promising start Saturday versus Mercer, leading 4-0 before Mercer batted. But an eight-run Mercer inning was too much to overcome as the Eagles fell 10-4 in the Bear Invitational
Freshman Addie Stem (2-4) got the ball to start for Morehead State (4-4) and took the loss. She was tagged for six runs in 4.1 innings. Jessie Begley also saw time, being charged with the other four Bear runs.
Senior Trinity Spear led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-4, with a triple. Freshman Sela Pickford hit a double and had an RBI. Senior Peyton Jordan also chipped in, going 1-for-3 for Morehead State with an RBI.
After a rough first inning, Grace Taylor settled in and pitched all seven for Mercer, striking out five Eagles. Kassidy Moore and Alyssa Woods both had three hits for the host team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Morehead State's offense started clicking in the first as it put up four runs. Pickford scored Spear on a double and then scored herself on a throwing error. Jordan registered an RBI single too. Samantha Cervantes was responsible for the final RBI of the inning, sending a deep sacrifice fly to score Jordan.
"Trinity got us started with a line drive to right field that she stretched into a triple. Sela drove her in with a double. Darlene, Peyton and ilencia all had hits that inning," coach Me3gan Griffith said. "We also had strong base running and were very aggressive. Darlene had one stolen base that game. PJ had two and I believe lenc had four."
The Eagles were unable to hold the lead, as Mercer scored 10 times over the remaining six innings to grab the 10-4 win. The big blow came in the fourth when the home team scored eight times, including a two-out grand slam by Tori Hedgecock, who had hit a walk off homer against MSU the night before.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed four runs across.
» Morehead State went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Eagle pitchers faced 35 Mercer hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out one.
» Darlene Montoya has now reached safely in seven of her first eight Eagle games.
UP NEXT
The Eagles face Troy Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET.
