Saturday, March 24
Macon, Ga.
2 p.m.
Mercer University
19-5, 0
3
vs
2
Wofford
15-9, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Wofford
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
5
0
Mercer
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
X
3
3
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Burks, Chase (4-1)
L: Adam Scott (3-2)
S: Vann, Christian (2)
Batting:
2B: Andrew Orzel 1
RBI: Andrew Orzel 1 ; Max McDougald 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mack Nathanson 1 ; Reed Massey 1
SB: McClain Bradley 1 ; Reed Massey 1 ; Alex Malsch 1
HBP: Cody Miller 1
Batting:
HR: Thomas, JT 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
RBI: Thomas, JT 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, JT 2 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
HBP: Posas, David 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Christopher Ian Smith
Mercer Bests Wofford in Pitcher’s Duel, Clinch Series
3/24/2018 5:41:00 PM | Baseball
Bears clinch SoCon-opening series with 3-2 win Saturday
MACON, Ga. – Senior right-hander Chase Burks outdueled Wofford ace Adam Scott on the mound as Mercer clinched its Southern Conference-opening series with a 3-2 win over the Terriers on Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
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Burks dominated over 6.1 innings to earn his fourth win of the season in a pitcher's duel that had a combined eight hits between the two teams. Scott struck out seven Bears over 7.1 frames, but Mercer (19-5, 2-0 SoCon) provided just enough firepower offensively to notch its seventh straight win.
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JT Thomas and Kyle Dockus both tallied solo home runs in the first and fifth innings, respectively, to give Mercer a 2-0 advantage through six frames. RJ Yeager added a pivotal RBI groundout in the seventh to score Thomas in a bases-loaded scenario.
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Burks left the game in the top of the seventh after a RBI double cut Mercer's lead to 2-1. Robert Broom replaced Burks and went 2.1 innings before Christian Vann came in for the final out – a swinging strikeout – in the top of the ninth to earn the save. Wofford made things interesting in the ninth by putting the tying run on second base before Vann's strikeout ended it.
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Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"We had a pitcher's duel break out at OrthoGeorgia Park today and it was good to be on the winning side of it," said head coach Craig Gibson. "I thought Wofford's Adam Scott was outstanding, but our pitchers have been great all year. We needed a quality pitching performance and Chase Burks was just as good as anyone today.
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"To win a championship, you have to win the one-run games. One of our biggest at bats was RJ Yeager's RBI groundout on an 0-2 count in the eighth, which gave us the insurance run we needed late in the game."
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Player of the Game
Chase Burks gets the nod for his stout start on the mound Saturday afternoon. Burks retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced including the first 10 to open the game. The right-hander did not allow a baserunner past second base before the seventh inning.
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Records Update
» Mercer: 19-5 (2-0 SoCon)
» Wofford: 15-9 (0-2 SoCon)
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Chase Burks (4-1)
» Loss: Adam Scott (3-2)
» Save: Christian Vann (2)
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Wofford (2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Wofford: At Mercer (2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
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Notables
» Mercer has won 28 of its last 33 weekend series played.
» Mercer improved to 16-3 at OrthoGeorgia Park.
» The Bears improved to 19-10 all-time against Wofford. Mercer has won its last three series against the Terriers.
» Dockus became the 12th Bear to hit a home run this season. Mercer is the only program with 12 different players to hit at least one home run.
» Thomas' home run was his first since hitting a pair on March 4 against Holy Cross.
» Vann's two saves this season rank second on the team. Four Bears have at least one save.
» Trey Truitt and Alex Hanson both extended their reached base streaks to 22 games.
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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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Burks dominated over 6.1 innings to earn his fourth win of the season in a pitcher's duel that had a combined eight hits between the two teams. Scott struck out seven Bears over 7.1 frames, but Mercer (19-5, 2-0 SoCon) provided just enough firepower offensively to notch its seventh straight win.
Â
JT Thomas and Kyle Dockus both tallied solo home runs in the first and fifth innings, respectively, to give Mercer a 2-0 advantage through six frames. RJ Yeager added a pivotal RBI groundout in the seventh to score Thomas in a bases-loaded scenario.
Â
Burks left the game in the top of the seventh after a RBI double cut Mercer's lead to 2-1. Robert Broom replaced Burks and went 2.1 innings before Christian Vann came in for the final out – a swinging strikeout – in the top of the ninth to earn the save. Wofford made things interesting in the ninth by putting the tying run on second base before Vann's strikeout ended it.
Â
Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"We had a pitcher's duel break out at OrthoGeorgia Park today and it was good to be on the winning side of it," said head coach Craig Gibson. "I thought Wofford's Adam Scott was outstanding, but our pitchers have been great all year. We needed a quality pitching performance and Chase Burks was just as good as anyone today.
Â
"To win a championship, you have to win the one-run games. One of our biggest at bats was RJ Yeager's RBI groundout on an 0-2 count in the eighth, which gave us the insurance run we needed late in the game."
Â
Player of the Game
Chase Burks gets the nod for his stout start on the mound Saturday afternoon. Burks retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced including the first 10 to open the game. The right-hander did not allow a baserunner past second base before the seventh inning.
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 19-5 (2-0 SoCon)
» Wofford: 15-9 (0-2 SoCon)
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Chase Burks (4-1)
» Loss: Adam Scott (3-2)
» Save: Christian Vann (2)
Â
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Wofford (2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Wofford: At Mercer (2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
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Notables
» Mercer has won 28 of its last 33 weekend series played.
» Mercer improved to 16-3 at OrthoGeorgia Park.
» The Bears improved to 19-10 all-time against Wofford. Mercer has won its last three series against the Terriers.
» Dockus became the 12th Bear to hit a home run this season. Mercer is the only program with 12 different players to hit at least one home run.
» Thomas' home run was his first since hitting a pair on March 4 against Holy Cross.
» Vann's two saves this season rank second on the team. Four Bears have at least one save.
» Trey Truitt and Alex Hanson both extended their reached base streaks to 22 games.
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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