MACON, Georgia – The Marist softball team suffered a 6-3 loss at Mercer in its first game of the Black & Orange Challenge on Friday.

The Red Foxes trailed 5-0 after four innings as the Bears scored two runs in the first, a single run in the third, and two more in the fourth. However, Marist climbed back into the game with a three-run fifth. Senior catcher Rebecca Freeman started a two-out rally with a single, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Senior right fielder Janna Korak followed with an RBI single, and left fielder Gabrielle Kelliher then delivered her first home run of the season, which made the score 5-3. However, Mercer catcher Megan Lane homered in the sixth for the final run of the game.

Marist outhit Mercer, 10-9. Freeman led the way with three hits, while sophomore center fielder Casey Page and sophomore second baseman Brandi Coon. In the circle, senior Jayne Oberdorf (0-1) took the loss. Oberdorf started and went the first four innings.

For Mercer, Lane finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Starter Megan Bilgri (2-0) went the first 4.2 innings for the victory. Stella Preston went the final 2.1 to earn the save.

Marist is now 2-3 on the season; Mercer is 5-6.

Friday's game marked the first of five Marist will play in the Black & Orange Challenge. The Red Foxes will return to action on Saturday with a pair of games against Fort Wayne (10 a.m.) and Savannah State (12:15 p.m.).