BOX SCORE

STATESBORO, Ga. – Meredith Moore recorded three hits, but Radford's late rally came up short as it fell to Mercer, 6-4, in the season opener for both squads.

Moore was a triple short of the cycle and finished 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored. Seniors Kristen Shifflett and Lauren Williams each registered two hits for the Highlanders (0-1).

Trailing 6-1 after a four-run fifth by the Bears (1-0), Radford scored two runs in the sixth and another with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Kari Chambers retired the final three batters to earn the complete game victory.

Chamber scattered nine hits and struck out seven for the Bears. McKenzie Woody had two of Mercer's five hits and scored half of its runs.

Mercer grabbed a 2-0 lead after three innings courtesy of a pair of unearned runs.

The Bears struck in the top of the first, taking advantage of an infield hit, walk and passed ball to score the first run of the contest. They added the second run on a successful squeeze in the third.

After stranding runners in the second and third, Moore, who doubled in her first at bat, put the Highlanders on the board as she launched Radford's first home run of the season to left field.

Mercer exploded for four two-out runs in the fifth behind a two-run double by Kristen Marko and a two-run home run to right by Sara Stukes.

Radford had a chance to get back into the ball game in the fifth, but left the bases loaded as Chambers ended the threat with a pair of punchouts.

A two-run double by junior Hannah Ojeda cut Mercer's lead in half (6-3) in the sixth. Moore led off with a single and advanced to second on an error and moved to third on a Morgan Eye bloop double. Both came home on Ojeda's rocket up the middle.

The Highlanders made it 6-4 on an RBI double by Shifflett in the bottom of the seventh. Williams led off with her second infield single of the game and stole second base. She scooted home on Shifllett's two-bagger down the leftfield line.

Senior Kellie Snooks suffered the defeat, allowing a pair of unearned runs and two hits in three innings. Sophomore Jackie Jenkins tossed the final four frames, giving up four runs on three hits with two strikeouts.