Softball Slaughters Mercer, 14-5

Friday, February 23

Macon, GA

5:30 PM

George Washington University

2-0

Mercer

2-8

George Washington

Mercer

Colleen Kegler had her first multi home-run game of her career

2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 23, 2007

Box Score

MACON, GA - Junior catcher Colleen Kegler went 3-3 with two home runs, a double, two runs scored and a career-high five runs batted in to lead George Washington (2-0) to a 14-5 victory over Mercer (2-8) in the final game of the first day of the Mercer Classic. Junior leftfielder Jackie Yaniga also added two home runs to go with four runs batted in and two runs scored.

The Colonials continued their hot hitting from the first game by scoring four runs in the top of the first. Senior catcher Nikki Brooks started the slugfest with a homerun to left. Junior Hilary King and sophomore Carrie Higdon later walked with out outs before junior Jackie Yaniga hit her first home run of the game to give GW a 4-0 lead.

The Bears responded in the bottom of the second when Kristin Talamantes added a solo shot to centerfield off junior pitcher Katie Miller.

In the Colonials half of the third, King smashed her third home run of the Mercer Classic off of Lindsey Hazzard to left field to give the Colonials a four run lead. Haley Tallent then came in to relieve Hazzard.

Mercer came back and tied the game with a four-run inning of their own in the top of the third. Lindsay Talamantes started the rally with a single down the left field line. Holly Oglesbee singled and stole second putting two runners in scoring position. Kelly Bretscher drove in Lindsay from third with a sacrifice fly to right. Jamie Madruga then hit a two-run shot scoring Oglesbee to make it 5-4. Ashley Anderson then singled to left before Kristin Talamantes came through again with an RBI double to left to tie the game and that was it for Katie Miller. Carrie Higdon came in for relief and got the final two outs of the inning to stop the bleeding.

GW came right back with four runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Kegler crusher her first home run of the game to left field to give the Colonials a 6-5 lead. Senior Janelle Parker followed with a bunt single and stole second. Senior Elana Meyers then walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch putting two runners in scoring position. Parker was then picked off leading off third base. Brooks then walked before junior Caroline Howe lined a three-run home run. That was it for Tallent as April Cunningham then came in relief to stop the rally.

The Colonials added five more runs in the next two innings off Yaniga's second homer of the game, and a grand slam home run by Kegler.

GW slugged a program-record seven home runs in their second game of the Mercer Classic.

Carrie Higdon got the win in relief allowing just three hits and no walks in 3.2 innings of work.

The Colonials will be back in action tomorrow, the second day of the Mercer Classic, when they take on Austin Peay at 10:00 am before pool play.