Friday, February 16
Macon, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
vs
Bethune-Cookman
Mercer Opens ’18 Season with Bethune-Cookman
2/15/2018 12:18:00 PM | Baseball
Bears host MEAC-favorite Wildcats in three-game series
MACON, Ga. – Mercer welcomes Bethune-Cookman to the friendly confines of OrthoGeorgia Park for a three-game series this weekend as the 2018 college baseball season gets underway. First pitch of Friday's season opener is slated for 6 p.m. as junior left-hander Austin Cox gets the nod on the mound.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (0-0) vs. Bethune-Cookman (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 16 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 17 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday: Feb. 18 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Projected Starters:
Mercer owns a four-game advantage (10-6) in the all-time series, which dates back 12 years. The Bears are winners of six straight over Bethune-Cookman, including a three-game sweep in Daytona Beach, Fla. in 2015.
The Wildcats went 36-25 overall in 2017 and claimed the MEAC Tournament title en route to a NCAA Tournament berth. Bethune-Cookman advanced to the Gainesville (Fla.) regional final with three wins over eventual national champion Florida, Marist and USF.
Bethune-Cookman expects another strong spring in 2018, as it was picked to win the MEAC Southern Division and placed eight players on the preseason All-MEAC first and second teams, including preseason player of the year Danny Rodriguez and preseason pitcher of the year Anthony Maldonado. New leadership will be in place, however, as interim head coach Barrett Shaft takes over for Jason Beverlin, who left the program after six years to assume a scouting role for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Defend Your Turf
Mercer's steady dominance at OrthoGeorgia Park since the 2012 campaign has played a key role in eight consecutive seasons with 35 wins or more. The Bears are 119-51 at home since '12, including an 18-9 mark last spring.
Mercer Receiving Votes
The Bears earned 11 votes in the preseason edition of the 2018 USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll and are the Southern Conference's lone representative. Mercer is also the state of Georgia's top vote-getter, ranking ahead of Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern.
New Bears in Town
Seventeen newcomers will don the Orange and Black for the first time this weekend, many of which will make an immediate impact. Despite returning four position starters, including the entire outfield, Mercer will have fresh faces in across the infield this spring.
Junior college transfers Sean McDermott and Brandon Michie will start at first base and second base, respectively, while freshman RJ Yeager will get the nod at shortstop. Alex Crotty, who earned 21 starts as a freshman last spring, will take the reins at third base while JT Thomas assumes the full-time role behind the dish.
All Eyes on Thomas
Senior catcher JT Thomas earned a pair of preseason All-America First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA before being named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year last week. The early accolades stem from his break-out junior season that saw him lead Mercer in batting average (.357), hits (75), doubles (20), RBIs (62), total bases (131), slugging percentage (.624) and on base percentage (.454).
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at www.MercerBears.com.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (0-0) vs. Bethune-Cookman (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 16 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 17 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday: Feb. 18 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Projected Starters:
- Friday: LHP Austin Cox (0-0) vs. RHP Tyler Norris (0-0)
- Saturday: RHP Chase Burks (0-0) vs. RHP Anthony Maldonado (0-0)
- Sunday: RHP Kevin Coulter (0-0) vs. RHP Jeremy Adams (0-0)
Mercer owns a four-game advantage (10-6) in the all-time series, which dates back 12 years. The Bears are winners of six straight over Bethune-Cookman, including a three-game sweep in Daytona Beach, Fla. in 2015.
- Series: Mercer, 10-6
- Macon: Mercer, 6-2
- Daytona Beach: 4-4
- First Meeting: 2/17/2006, MER 4-2, in Macon, Ga.
- Last Meeting: 2/22/2015, MER 13-4, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
- Streak: Mercer, 6
The Wildcats went 36-25 overall in 2017 and claimed the MEAC Tournament title en route to a NCAA Tournament berth. Bethune-Cookman advanced to the Gainesville (Fla.) regional final with three wins over eventual national champion Florida, Marist and USF.
Bethune-Cookman expects another strong spring in 2018, as it was picked to win the MEAC Southern Division and placed eight players on the preseason All-MEAC first and second teams, including preseason player of the year Danny Rodriguez and preseason pitcher of the year Anthony Maldonado. New leadership will be in place, however, as interim head coach Barrett Shaft takes over for Jason Beverlin, who left the program after six years to assume a scouting role for the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Defend Your Turf
Mercer's steady dominance at OrthoGeorgia Park since the 2012 campaign has played a key role in eight consecutive seasons with 35 wins or more. The Bears are 119-51 at home since '12, including an 18-9 mark last spring.
Mercer Receiving Votes
The Bears earned 11 votes in the preseason edition of the 2018 USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll and are the Southern Conference's lone representative. Mercer is also the state of Georgia's top vote-getter, ranking ahead of Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern.
New Bears in Town
Seventeen newcomers will don the Orange and Black for the first time this weekend, many of which will make an immediate impact. Despite returning four position starters, including the entire outfield, Mercer will have fresh faces in across the infield this spring.
Junior college transfers Sean McDermott and Brandon Michie will start at first base and second base, respectively, while freshman RJ Yeager will get the nod at shortstop. Alex Crotty, who earned 21 starts as a freshman last spring, will take the reins at third base while JT Thomas assumes the full-time role behind the dish.
All Eyes on Thomas
Senior catcher JT Thomas earned a pair of preseason All-America First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA before being named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year last week. The early accolades stem from his break-out junior season that saw him lead Mercer in batting average (.357), hits (75), doubles (20), RBIs (62), total bases (131), slugging percentage (.624) and on base percentage (.454).
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at www.MercerBears.com.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
Mercer 22, Wofford 21 | Postgame Press Conference (9/13/25)
Sunday, September 14
Mercer Football 2025 | vs. Wofford | Full Game Highlights
Sunday, September 14
Mercer Football Press Conference (Week 3 vs. Wofford)
Monday, September 08
Mercer v. South Florida Men's Soccer Highlight Reel: 9/7/2025
Monday, September 08
