Holtz Baffles Owls in Conference Opener

- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor of The Bear Zone/ Sports Columnist
james.andrew.lockwood@student.mercer.edu

Sporting a 21-9 non-conference record coming into the Saturday’s contest against A-Sun rivals Kennesaw State, the Owls should’ve known that Mercer wasn’t the softball lightweight they’ve seen in years past.  In addition, someone should’ve warned them about sophomore Jenni Holtz (15-4), the Bear’s ace pitcher who continues to break records with her consistent efforts from the circle. 

            To recap the afternoon, Holtz struck out 19 batters through the course of her 11 innings of work in the doubleheader, propelling Mercer to take both games in the two game series 1-0 and 5-1.  The first game turned out to be a pitching duel between Holtz and Kennesaw State’s April Harper (4-3).  Holtz allowed only one hit while Harper allowed two hits and three walks.

            Timely hitting in the third inning was key for Mercer as Brandy Keeter’s single down the right field line advanced Amanda Santa Maria to third base.  Holly Oglesbee’s sacrifice fly to left field would end up scoring the only run of the game, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish.

            After taking the first game of the afternoon in 1 hour and 17 minutes, Mercer had to crawl from behind to win the second game.  Senior Lacey Richardson battled the Owl’s Catherine Tarvin early in what appeared to be another defensive showdown, but a third inning charge by Kennesaw State at the plate saw Kelsey Kulk score the first run of game, giving KSU the 1-0 advantage.  Bringing in Holtz to relieve Richardson in a fourth inning, bases loaded jam, ended up being the right move as Holtz fanned five of the next fourteen batters she would face.

            In the meantime, Mercer’s bats got hot in the fifth inning, with big hits coming from Jena Ellis, Cassy Neilson, and utility catcher Brady Keeter.  An otherwise perfect pitching effort for Tarvin through the first four innings collapsed in the fifth, as Mercer would score five runs to put the game out of reach.

            After the game, head coach Mike Raynor couldn’t be happier with his team’s performance.  “Today was a continuation of our total team effort,” Raynor said to MercerBears.com.  “We pitched well, played good defense and got enough offense going to grab two big conference wins,” the third-year coach added.  With an impressive 23-9 record, the Bears go on the road to face the likes of #9 Georgia and Campbell before returning home in early April for doubleheaders with Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson.