GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mercer’s softball team had a huge comeback win against FGCU on Friday, scoring eight runs over its final two innings for a 9-4 win after trailing 4-1 through four innings. The Bears were defeated by 10^th-ranked Florida 8-3 in their second game of the day.
 
MERCER 9, FGCU 4
The Eagles were the first on the board starting with a walk by Avery Viancos. Cana Davis walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch; Viancos to third. A double from Neely Peterson scored Viancos and Davis before the end of the first. 
 
In the bottom of the first, Mercer’s Rebeca Laudino and Annie Potter both singled. 
 
In the top of the second, Sam Leski homered, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead. 
 
The Bears’ Tori Ash singled in the bottom of the second. 
 
The Bears reached the board in the bottom of the third starting with a double from Laudino. Alyssa Woods singled, advancing Laudino to third. Laudino stole home, putting the Bears within two. 
 
In the top of the fourth, Viancos and Emily Estroff walked with Viancos scoring off a double from Davis. 
Ash and Kenlie Harvey singled in the bottom of the fourth, while Madison Headley walked.
 
Potter singled and Diamond Williams walked in the bottom of the fifth.  A home run from Tori Hedgecock scored both, tying the game at 4. 
 
The Bears scored five more runs in the sixth, extended their lead starting with a leadoff walk from Harvey.
 
Headley, Laudino, and pinch-hitter Kylie Helm singled back-to-back-to-back. Harvey scored on the single from Helm while a double from Williams scored Headley, Laudino and Woods, who re-entered for Helm. A single from Adele Braun scored Williams to make it 9-4 in Mercer’s favor.
 
The Eagles were unable to respond in the top of the seventh. 
 
FLORIDA 8, MERCER 3
 
Alyssa Woods and Diamond Williams both earned walks in the top of the first. 
 
The Gator went up by two, which started with a single by Kendra Falby. A hit by pitch to Skylar Wallace advanced Falby to second. Both Wallace and Falby stole bases and Falby scored on a sacrifice fly by Charla Echols. A single from Cheyenne Lindsey scored Wallace before the end of the inning. 
 
In the top of the second, Braun reached base after a hit by pitch. Braun stole second, Harvey walked, and Madison Headley reached on error. Despite the Bears on base, the score remained the same. 
 
A Katie Kistler home run extended the Gator lead to three. 
 
Harvey earned a walk in the top of the fourth. 
 
In the top of the fifth, Laudino doubled and advanced to third on a single from Woods. A sacrifice fly from Williams scored Laudino. 
 
Lindsey and Walsh singled in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Longley pinch ran and scored off a triple from Kistler along with Lindsey. Florida 5, Mercer 1. 
 
Braun homered in the top of the sixth. 
 
In the bottom of the inning, Wallace singled and stole second. Echols and Lindsey walked. A sacrifice fly from Longley scored Wallace and a sacrifice fly from Kistler scored Echols. Cali Decker doubled and Lindsey scored. 
 
Laudino led with a single, moved to second on a single from Potter, and scored on a single from Tori Hedgecock.