Floyds Knobs softball shuts down Brazil, 2-0, to stay alive in the Little League World Series

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- National TV. Elimination game. Light rain. No problem.

The Floyds Knobs Little League softball team seized its biggest stage yet Wednesday, shutting out Brazil, 2-0, on ESPN2 to advance in the Little League Softball World Series.

Briley Mercer delivered again in the circle, throwing a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts, no walks and just four hits allowed, despite drizzle late in the game that made her job a bit tougher.

"I just knew I had a great defense behind me," Mercer told ESPN2 after the game, "and that if anybody scored any runs, my team would get them back."

As for pitching in the rain late?

"I was just thinking 'Don't let the ball get wet.'"

It was Indiana's third win in Greenville, North Carolina, and its second straight in elimination play. The Central Region champs have now held opponents scoreless in 17 of the 18 innings they've played in the tournament.

Mercer has allowed just one earned run in 15 innings pitched, with 19 strikeouts and only three walks -- for an earned run average of 0.40.

Reese Carroll's RBI single in the second inning gave Indiana a 1-0 lead — and marked Carroll's first hit of the tournament. An error added an insurance run in the third. The Hoosiers nearly added more in the fourth, but a runner was called out on appeal for leaving third early on a fly ball. Brazil later stranded two runners in the fifth as the rain intensified.

Indiana scattered five hits from five players — Mercer, Carroll, Aubrey Whittemore, Scarlett Renn and Kye DeSpain — while playing error-free defense. Carroll led the team with eight defensive chances at shortstop.

Several Hoosiers have made major offensive impressions in Greenville:

Scarlett Renn is hitting .750 with an .833 on-base percentage through three games.
Aubrey Whittemore has a .600 average.
Grace Fiore is batting .571 with four hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Dru Drummond is at .500 with an RBI.
Kennedy Nickels is batting .429 with a pair of double and two RBI.

Fiore also delivered a three-inning scoreless relief outing earlier in the tournament, giving Indiana a formidable 1-2 punch in the circle.

The Floyds Knobs team will get a well-earned day off before returning to action at 7 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN2 against the loser of Thursday's North Carolina vs. Japan game.