Date Posted: 4/6/2008

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Mercer softball squad ended Florida Gulf Coast's perfect conference run by handing the Eagles their first Atlantic Sun loss of the season, 4-2, in the first game of the doubleheader Sunday afternoon at FGCU Softball Complex. The Bears dropped the second game of the twinbill, 7-4.

Mercer (27-15, 7-4 A-Sun) hopped on the board early in game one, pushing a run across in the first inning. Sophomore Holly Oglesbee led off the inning with a single through the right side and moved to second courtesy of a wild pitch by Rachael Edinger. The sophomore advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gigi Eykamp and raced home on a sacrifice fly by Jamie Madruga.

The Bears added to their lead in the second inning when Jena Ellis led off with a solo-shot to right field, her eighth long ball of the season.

In the third, Mercer added a run to take a 3-0 lead. April Cunningham drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Oglesbee. The junior moved to third on a ground-out by Gigi Eykamp and scored on an illegal pitch by Edinger.

The Eagles (43-11, 11-1 A-Sun) narrowed the Bears lead in the fourth, putting two runs on the board. After back-to-back hit by pitches, Samantha Waldron belted a single to deep centerfield to allow Carmen Paez to run home and put the Eagles within two, 3-1. After a catcher’s interference loaded the bases, Alisha Boyd drew a walk to plate another run for FGCU.

Mercer added an insurance run in the fifth as Ashley Anderson and Cassy Neilson led off with consecutive singles to left field. A ground-out by Cunningham allowed each to advance a base and Oglesbee followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right field that allowed Anderson to score and put the Bears up two, 4-2.

The Bears held the Eagles scoreless through their final four at-bats, taking a 4-2 win.

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Softball
 • Full Story at MercerBears.com