MACON, Ga. – After offense was hard to come by during much of Friday's doubleheader, Western Carolina and Mercer both plated four runs in the opening two innings of Saturday's series finale. The Bears then used a trio of multi-run innings that allowed Mercer to complete the three-game sweep with a 12-4 run-rule victory from Sikes Field.
Sophomore Lily Bell led the Catamounts at the dish with her 23rd multi-hit game of the season as she tallied a run and an RBI in the contest. Freshman Courtney Marks, sophomore Becka Wonsick, and junior Tate Stewman each got in the hit column as Stewman tallied her second double of the season. Bell also picked up her team-high 26th stolen base, and Marks stole her 12th of the campaign.
The Catamounts jumped out to the early advantage on Saturday as a Bell single was followed by a Marks walk before McPherson and Juett lifted back-to-back sacrifice flies to give WCU a 2-0 lead after half an inning.
Mercer (26-26, 6-8 SoCon) answered in the home half of the opening inning with a pair of two-run homers to flip the scoreboard and give the Bears a 4-2 lead early in the series finale. Stewman got WCU's offense going once again in the second with a one-out RBI double to score Wonsick before an RBI single from Bell quickly tied the game at four.
WCU starter Tessa Juett posted the first 1-2-3 inning by either pitcher in the bottom of the second to keep the game tied after a pair of innings.
Mercer regained its lead in the home half of the third with a pair of RBI singles to take a 6-4 lead to the fourth inning. The Bears stymied the Catamounts in the fourth and the fifth inning and plated four runs in the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth to claim the 12-4 run-rule victory on Saturday afternoon.
Juett (8-14) tossed three innings, allowing six hits and six runs, with five of those being earned, with a strikeout. Freshman AG Batson came on in relief and pitched an inning, allowing five hits and four runs. Makenzie Martin recorded an out while allowing two hits and two runs.
Grace Jones went two innings, allowing five hits and four runs with three strikeouts in her abbreviated start. Katheryn Rearley (4-2) tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts before Grace Taylor tossed the final 1.1 scoreless innings with a strikeout.
Western Carolina (20-27, 4-11 SoCon) returns home for the final time in the 2025 season with a visit from chromatic rival Furman beginning on Sat., April 26. The Catamounts and Paladins open the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader before a 1 p.m. series finale at the Catamount Softball Complex the following afternoon.
All three games are slated for ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats provided at CatamountSports.com.
Before first pitch of Sunday's home finale, the Catamounts will recognize the 2025 senior class of Tessa Juett, Imara Harrell, Mattie Mentel, Makenzie Martin, and Natalie Henry for their contributions to the WCU Softball program over the past few years.
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