ATLANTA – The Mercer softball team was defeated by Georgia Tech, 9-1, in a Tuesday evening match-up. 
 
The Yellow Jackets would be the first on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Tricia Awald walked, advanced to second on a throw, and scored following Mallorie Black’s single to right field. Black would score two batters later with a single from Emma Minghini to make it 2-0.
 
A walk by Tori Hedgecock would be the only plate action by the Bears in the second inning. The Yellow Jackets totaled two additional runs in the inning on Black’s two-run single, which scored Emma Kauf and Ella Edgmon to make it 4-0.
 
Madison Headley touched the first base in the top of the third with a single hit to the pitcher. The Bear offense would end with zero runs along with the Bear defense allowing zero runs in the third. 
 
The Bears’ streak of one hit per inning continued in the fourth with a single up the middle from Kylie Helm. That would not be enough as the Yellow Jackets extended their lead by two in the bottom of the fourth. Tricia Awald and Mallorie Black recorded runs to make it 6-0 in Georgia Tech’s favor. 
 
Emma Kauf homered in the bottom of the fifth, making the lead 7-0 for the Yellow Jackets. 
 
The Bears would reach the board in the top of the sixth with three straight singles from Diamond Williams, Helm and Hedgecock. Williams was able to score after advancing to third on a wild pitch followed by the single from Hedgecock.
 
Grace Connelly hit a walkoff two-run homer for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the sixth, making it 9-1 and putting the run rule into effect.
 
The Bears will compete in the JU/UNF Invitational this weekend (Friday-Sunday) in Jacksonville, Florida.