CLEMSON, S.C. — Right-hander Grace Taylor limited the Longwood softball team to two hits and a walk to lead Mercer past the Lancers, 5-0, in the Tiger Invitational at McWhorter Stadium Saturday.

Tournament-host No. 10/11 Clemson (16-6) then scored eight runs over the final two frames to beat Longwood, 9-1, in six innings in the nightcap. Tigers' righty Valerie Cagle (7-4) scattered five hits and walk, striking out seven in the circle, while hitting 3-for-4 with a walk-off two-run home run and three RBIs. 

Taylor, who improved to 4-4 with the win for Mercer, saw her no-hit bid halted with one out in the sixth as freshman Avery Miller lined a 1-1 offering into left field for a double. Sophomore Sophia Knock added a seventh-inning single, while senior Emily Vinson, the second batter of the game, coaxed a full-count walk. That was all Longwood (7-15) mustered against Taylor, who struck out one and threw 97 pitches.

The Bears (9-11) scored in four of six turns at-bat and were led by Tori Hedgecock, who hit a solo home run to left-center field in the first inning off of lefty Cierra Gawryluk and also contributed a pair of doubles as part of a 3-for-3 effort at the plate.

Gawrryluk (0-3) lasted just 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Er'ron Burton and Maggie Chapin. Gawryluk allowed the homer and two walks. Burton threw 3 2/3 frames, surrendering seven hits, three earned runs and a walk. Chapin pitched a clean sixth inning.

The Lancers went toe-to-toe with Clemson for most of the night, trailing by just one into the fifth inning. Aby Viera singled home Alia Logoleo with two out in the bottom of the second to open the scoring. Logoleo led off the inning with a triple down the right-field line.

The Tigers threatened in the third and fourth innings, but Chapin stranded three Tigers on the bases.

Clemson, however, broke through in the fourth with three consecutive singles — all with one out — from  Alex Brown, McKenzie Clark and Cagle, who helped her cause own with an RBI knock for a 2-0 lead. Pinch runner Julia Bomhardt then stole second and Clark scampered home on an ensuing wild pitch. Logoleo followed, reaching on a fielder's choice that scored Bomhardt.

Kayley DeVivi cut into the deficit with her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to right field in the top of the sixth off of Cagle. Longwood kept the rally going as Korynna Anderson was hit by a pitch with one out and Lauren Taylor singled to shortstop. Cagle ended the the inning by getting two strikeouts.

Clemson put the game away in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases for Brown. She reached on a fielder's choice that plated pinch runner Haylee Whitesides. Viera also came around with the benefit of a throwing error on the play for a 6-1 lead. After a Clark sacrifice fly pushed the score to 7-1, Cagle ended the game with a home run to right field. 

Chapin (7-6) absorbed the loss for Longwood, giving up seven hits, four earned runs and a walk, striking out five, in five innings of work.

The Lancers close the weekend with a 10 a.m., game against Fordham on Sunday.