Saturday, February 17
Macon, Ga.
2 p.m.
Mercer University
2-0
6
vs
5
Bethune-Cookman
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Bethune-Cookman
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
1
Mercer
2
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
6
7
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vann, Christian (1-0)
L: Ivan Coutinho (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Danny Rodriguez 1
RBI: Joseph Fernando 1 ; Danny Rodriguez 3 ; Josten Heron 1
SH: Josten Heron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Joseph Fernando 1 ; Adonis Lao 1 ; Danny Rodriguez 1 ; Nate Sterijevski 1 ; Zach Spivey 1
CS: Nate Sterijevski 1
Batting:
2B: Thomas, JT 1
HR: Bassett, Le 1
RBI: Thomas, JT 2 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Bassett, Le 1
SH: Ware, Jackson 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Posas, David 1 ; Thomas, JT 1 ; Bassett, Le 1 ; Crotty, Alex 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1
SB: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Posas, David 2
HBP: Truitt, Trey 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Bears Walk It Off, Clinch Series on Saturday
2/17/2018 6:18:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer rallies from three-run deficit to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 6-5
MACON, Ga. – Mercer clinched its third consecutive season-opening series as Alex Hanson scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to seal a 6-5 victory for the Bears over Bethune-Cookman at OrthoGeorgia Park on Saturday.
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After reaching base on a Wildcat fielding error, Hanson stole second base and eventually moved to third on a groundout before scoring the game-winning run with two outs. Christian Vann earned the win for Mercer (2-0) with 1.1 innings of relief.
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The Bears claimed a two-run lead in the bottom of the first when David Posas scored on a wild pitch and Jackson Ware brought JT Thomas home with a safety squeeze bunt. Bethune-Cookman (0-2) responded, however, with a three-run home run by Danny Rodriguez in the third. The Wildcats knocked Mercer starting pitcher Chase Burks out in the fourth with another two runs.
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Mercer rallied in the fifth and sixth innings as Thomas roped a two-RBI double to center field before freshman Le Bassett belted his first collegiate home run in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
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Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"Today's game was everything we were expecting," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We've heard [Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Anthony] Maldonado was really good…and he was really good against us.
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"I thought our guys pitched really well. We had some timely hits with JT [Thomas'] big knock and Le Bassett getting one out of the park for us. You really can't say enough about our young and new guys so far."
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Player of the Game
Robert Broom and Vann provided the heavy duty work out of the bullpen, tossing a combined 6.2 innings of scoreless relief for Burks. Broom fanned six while working around three hits and a pair of walks, while Vann did not allow a baserunner.
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The duo teamed up for a pivotal eighth-inning effort; after allowing two hits to start the frame, Broom struck out two batters and was relieved by Vann, who registered one as well to strand the potential go-ahead runners.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (1-0)
» Loss: Ivan Coutinho (0-1)
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Record Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Bethune-Cookman: 0-2
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Bethune-Cookman (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Bethune-Cookman: At Mercer (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
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Notables
» Mercer earned its third consecutive season-opening series win, dating back to 2016.
» Mercer has won eight in a row against Bethune-Cookman and leads the all-time series, 12-6.
» Bassett joined Brandon Michie and Sean McDermott as the three Mercer newcomers to record home runs through two games played this season.
» Posas tallied his first career multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3. He added one run scored and two stolen bases.
» Thomas recorded his 26th career multi-hit game of his career.
» Burks tallied six strikeouts, one shy of his career-high.
» Freshman RJ Yeager notched his first collegiate hit with a single in the fifth.
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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 MercerBears.com.
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After reaching base on a Wildcat fielding error, Hanson stole second base and eventually moved to third on a groundout before scoring the game-winning run with two outs. Christian Vann earned the win for Mercer (2-0) with 1.1 innings of relief.
Â
The Bears claimed a two-run lead in the bottom of the first when David Posas scored on a wild pitch and Jackson Ware brought JT Thomas home with a safety squeeze bunt. Bethune-Cookman (0-2) responded, however, with a three-run home run by Danny Rodriguez in the third. The Wildcats knocked Mercer starting pitcher Chase Burks out in the fourth with another two runs.
Â
Mercer rallied in the fifth and sixth innings as Thomas roped a two-RBI double to center field before freshman Le Bassett belted his first collegiate home run in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5.
Â
Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"Today's game was everything we were expecting," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We've heard [Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Anthony] Maldonado was really good…and he was really good against us.
Â
"I thought our guys pitched really well. We had some timely hits with JT [Thomas'] big knock and Le Bassett getting one out of the park for us. You really can't say enough about our young and new guys so far."
Â
Player of the Game
Robert Broom and Vann provided the heavy duty work out of the bullpen, tossing a combined 6.2 innings of scoreless relief for Burks. Broom fanned six while working around three hits and a pair of walks, while Vann did not allow a baserunner.
Â
The duo teamed up for a pivotal eighth-inning effort; after allowing two hits to start the frame, Broom struck out two batters and was relieved by Vann, who registered one as well to strand the potential go-ahead runners.
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (1-0)
» Loss: Ivan Coutinho (0-1)
Â
Record Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Bethune-Cookman: 0-2
Â
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Bethune-Cookman (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Bethune-Cookman: At Mercer (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
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Notables
» Mercer earned its third consecutive season-opening series win, dating back to 2016.
» Mercer has won eight in a row against Bethune-Cookman and leads the all-time series, 12-6.
» Bassett joined Brandon Michie and Sean McDermott as the three Mercer newcomers to record home runs through two games played this season.
» Posas tallied his first career multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3. He added one run scored and two stolen bases.
» Thomas recorded his 26th career multi-hit game of his career.
» Burks tallied six strikeouts, one shy of his career-high.
» Freshman RJ Yeager notched his first collegiate hit with a single in the fifth.
Â
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 MercerBears.com.
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