Tuesday, February 27
Kennesaw, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
7-2
4
at
0
Kennesaw State
4-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
MERCER
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
4
11
2
Kennesaw State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vann, Christian (2-0)
L: Kennedy, Ryan (0-2)
S: Broom, Robert (1)
Batting:
2B: Thomas, JT 1
3B: Truitt, Trey 1
RBI: Thomas, JT 4
SH: Bassett, Le 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Truitt, Trey 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1 ; Cornell, Conrad 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1
SB: Cornell, Conrad 1
CS: Ware, Jackson 1
HBP: Thomas, JT 1
PO: Hanson, Alex 1
Base Running:
SB: Bryant, LaDonis 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Bears Blank Kennesaw State for First Road Win
2/27/2018 10:04:00 PM | Baseball
Christian Vann, JT Thomas shine in 4-0 victory
KENNESAW, Ga. – Mercer used a career performance by senior left-hander Christian Vann and four runs batted in by JT Thomas to claim a 4-0 victory over in-state rival Kennesaw State on Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
Vann (2-0), who made his first career start, tossed 6.2 innings and struck out seven Owls (4-5) while only allowing a pair of hits. Usually one of Mercer's top relief arms out of the bullpen, Vann retired 13 of the first 15 batters he faced en route to his second win of the season.
Mercer (7-2) notched 11 hits in the win, three coming off the bat of Thomas, who plated all four of the Bears' runs. Thomas delivered a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth innings before adding an exclamation mark in the ninth with a two-run double. Robert Broom struck out five batters over 2.1 innings of relief to earn his first save of the season.
It was Mercer's fourth straight win and first on the road. The Bears and Owls will clash again Wednesday at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"Tonight's win started on the mound; Christian Vann's performance set the tone for us," said head coach Craig Gibson. "To hold a quality Kennesaw State team scoreless in his first career start is outstanding.
"Of course [Robert] Broom was outstanding at the end as well. Those are two good pieces who were at their best tonight."
On offensive performance:
"Offensively, we had some seniors step up tonight. Trey Truitt was outstanding. JT [Thomas] did what he's expected to do and came up with a big hit in the ninth to seal this win. There will be another good game tomorrow…we'll be ready to play well."
Player of the Game
Christian Vann took full advantage of his first start on the mound as a Bear, earning his second win of the season with a career-high 6.2 innings. The Lilburn, Ga., native struck out a career-best seven batters and allowed just five baserunners – two hits, two hits and one reaching on an error – while holding the Owls scoreless.
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (2-0)
» Loss: Ryan Kennedy (0-2)
» Save: Robert Broom (1)
Record Update
» Mercer: 7-2
» Kennesaw State: 4-5
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Kennesaw State (6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Macon, Ga.)
» Kennesaw State: At Mercer (6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Macon, Ga.)
Notables
» Tuesday marked Mercer's first shutout win since a 6-0 victory over Savannah State on March 7, 2017.
» Mercer improved to 26-17 all-time against Kennesaw State.
» Trey Truitt led off the game with Mercer's first triple of the season. He went 3-for-4 to record the 56th multi-hit game of his career.
» JT Thomas extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 3-for-4 effort. It was his fourth straight multi-hit game and seventh of the season.
» Robert Broom made his sixth pitching appearance of the season. He entered Tuesday ranked third nationally in pitching appearances.
» Vann has struck out 19 batters and allowed only two walks in 13.1 innings this season.
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.
Vann (2-0), who made his first career start, tossed 6.2 innings and struck out seven Owls (4-5) while only allowing a pair of hits. Usually one of Mercer's top relief arms out of the bullpen, Vann retired 13 of the first 15 batters he faced en route to his second win of the season.
Mercer (7-2) notched 11 hits in the win, three coming off the bat of Thomas, who plated all four of the Bears' runs. Thomas delivered a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth innings before adding an exclamation mark in the ninth with a two-run double. Robert Broom struck out five batters over 2.1 innings of relief to earn his first save of the season.
It was Mercer's fourth straight win and first on the road. The Bears and Owls will clash again Wednesday at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"Tonight's win started on the mound; Christian Vann's performance set the tone for us," said head coach Craig Gibson. "To hold a quality Kennesaw State team scoreless in his first career start is outstanding.
"Of course [Robert] Broom was outstanding at the end as well. Those are two good pieces who were at their best tonight."
On offensive performance:
"Offensively, we had some seniors step up tonight. Trey Truitt was outstanding. JT [Thomas] did what he's expected to do and came up with a big hit in the ninth to seal this win. There will be another good game tomorrow…we'll be ready to play well."
Player of the Game
Christian Vann took full advantage of his first start on the mound as a Bear, earning his second win of the season with a career-high 6.2 innings. The Lilburn, Ga., native struck out a career-best seven batters and allowed just five baserunners – two hits, two hits and one reaching on an error – while holding the Owls scoreless.
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (2-0)
» Loss: Ryan Kennedy (0-2)
» Save: Robert Broom (1)
Record Update
» Mercer: 7-2
» Kennesaw State: 4-5
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Kennesaw State (6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Macon, Ga.)
» Kennesaw State: At Mercer (6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Macon, Ga.)
Notables
» Tuesday marked Mercer's first shutout win since a 6-0 victory over Savannah State on March 7, 2017.
» Mercer improved to 26-17 all-time against Kennesaw State.
» Trey Truitt led off the game with Mercer's first triple of the season. He went 3-for-4 to record the 56th multi-hit game of his career.
» JT Thomas extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 3-for-4 effort. It was his fourth straight multi-hit game and seventh of the season.
» Robert Broom made his sixth pitching appearance of the season. He entered Tuesday ranked third nationally in pitching appearances.
» Vann has struck out 19 batters and allowed only two walks in 13.1 innings this season.
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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