MACON, Ga. – The University of Maine softball picked up a win over North Carolina A&T before falling in extra innings to Mercer on the second day of the Heart of Georgia Classic on Saturday at Sikes Field.

The Black Bears will close out the Heart of Georgia Classic tomorrow with a single game against Evansville.

Game 3
Score: Maine 10, NC A&T 2
Stadium: Sikes Files
How it Happened

• After NC A&T took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Maine responded with three runs in the home half of the frame … a Madison Hand double plated two runs and then Hand scored on the first career hit for Alli Goetz.
• Hand's bases-loaded walk made it 4-1 Maine in the second inning and then in the bottom of the third, Keira Inman's solo shot and Anna Carlson's RBI single extended the lead.
• After a scoreless fourth, the Black Bears earned the run-rule victory with four runs in the bottom of the fifth … Morgan Pool had an RBI single and then Annika Shearer drove in two with a single of her own … another Goetz RBI single gave the game its 10-2 final.

Game Notes

• The win marked the 350th career win for head coach Kimberly Stiles.
• Alysen Rieth started, throwing 5.0 innings in earning the win … the senior allowed two runs – one earned – on five hits while striking out two and walking none.
• Alli Goetz (3-for-4), Annika Shearer (2-for-2), and Anna Carlson (2-for-4) had multi-hit games for Maine.
• Goetz and Carlson both recorded their first collegiate hits.
• Madison Hand was 1-for-3 with one double and two walks while recording a career-high three RBI.
• Keira Inman was 1-for-2 with one RBI, one walk and two runs scored.

 
Game 4
Score: Mercer 8, Maine 7 (8)
Stadium: Sikes Field
How it Happened

• Mercer got on the board first in the bottom of the second, plating two runs on a sacrifice fly and a single.
• The Black Bears pulled one run back in the top of the third – with Francesca Guerrera driving in Eviana Robles – but Mercer responded with a home run in the home half to go back up by two.
• In the top of the fourth, Maine pushed three runs across on singles … first Morgan Pool drive in Neve Adams – who had reached based on her first career hit – and then Robles and Anna Carlson both knocked in a run to put Maine up 4-3.
• After a Mercer double tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, Keira Inman's second home run of the day restored Maine's one-run lead in the top of the sixth … Mercer tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth, Adams scored on a wild pitch and then Eviana Robles doubled home Pool for a 7-5 edge.
• Mercer responded in the bottom of the eighth for an 8-7 walk-off win … the hosts loaded the bases and then scored three batters in a row with a single, hit by pitch and another single.

Game Notes

• Hannah Hipwell made her collegiate debut, throwing 4.1 innings while allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
• Kyla Brogan also made her collegiate debut in the circle, throwing 2.2 innings in relief in taking the loss… Brogan allowed four runs – three earned – on seven hits while walking two and striking out one.
• Neve Adams recorded her first NCAA hit, finishing the game 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Anna Carlson went 2-for-5 with one double and one RBI … Morgan Pool was 2-for-3 with one walk and one RBI … Eviana Robles hit 2-for-4 with two RBI, one double and one run scored.
• Keira Inman was 1-for-1 with a home run, two walks and two runs scored.

 
Up Next

• Maine will close out the Heart of Georgia Classic tomorrow Sunday, Feb. 8 with a 10 a.m. contest against Evansville.