Saturday, May 12
Macon, Ga.
8 p.m.
Mercer University
34-18
19
vs
1
Alcorn State
12-37
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Alcorn State
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
1
Mercer
4
3
3
0
3
6
X
19
12
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Varga, Carter (1-0)
L: George Osborne III (0-7)
Batting:
RBI: Brandon Barna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: A.J. Makarewicz 1
Batting:
2B: Michie, Brandon 1 ; Crotty, Alex 1
HR: Taylor, Steven 1 ; Michie, Brandon 1
RBI: Taylor, Steven 2 ; Michie, Brandon 3 ; Truitt, Trey 2 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Bassett, Le 2 ; Lingo, Drew 1 ; Thomas, JT 3 ; Crotty, Alex 4 ; Cornell, Conrad 1
SF: Michie, Brandon 1 ; Crotty, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Alex 3 ; Yeager, RJ 2 ; Taylor, Steven 3 ; Michie, Brandon 3 ; Truitt, Trey 4 ; Ware, Jackson 2 ; Lingo, Drew 2
SB: Yeager, RJ 1
HBP: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Taylor, Steven 1 ; Bassett, Le 1 ; Lingo, Drew 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
Photo by: Gerrit Van Genderen
Seniors Shine as Mercer Sweeps Alcorn State
5/12/2018 11:56:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer outscores Braves, 46-7, in three-game sweep
MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored 10 runs over the first three innings and ran away with a dominant 19-1 win and series sweep of Alcorn State on Saturday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.
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The 8 p.m. contest was called after six and a half innings of play because it was a travel day for Alcorn State (12-37). First pitch was moved back two hours due to Mercer University's Commencement ceremony earlier in the afternoon. Mercer (34-18) earned its fourth weekend sweep of the season while outscoring the Braves, 46-7, over the three games.
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Mercer sent nine batters to the plate in each of the first two innings; a two-run single by Le Bassett and a pair of sacrifice flies from Brandon Michie and Alex Crotty led to four runs in a tone-setting first inning. Steven Taylor and Michie connected for back-to-back home runs in the third to make it a 10-run game heading into the fourth. Taylor's long ball, a two-run shot, was the first of his career.
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Chase Burks struck out six Braves and allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings on the mound before turning it over to the bullpen. Four pitchers – including seniors Carter Varga and Austin Lord – closed out the remaining four innings and struck out two batters apiece. Varga earned the win for his first decision of the year.
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Crotty delivered a two-run double in the fifth en route to a career-best four-RBI performance. The Bears then added six runs in the sixth when all nine batters reached base safely to open the inning; seven Bears drew walks while Taylor was hit by a pitch and Jackson Ware added a RBI single.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer batted .388 (38-for-98) with 46 runs scored and 20 extra-base hits in the three-game series against Alcorn State. Not to be outdone, the Bears' pitching staff struck out 41 batters while the Braves hit just .180 against them over 25 innings.
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Player of the Game
Steven Taylor submitted a career performance just hours after walking across the stage at Commencement. The senior went 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, all career-highs. After replacing RJ Yeager at shortstop in the third, Taylor belted his first career home run in the home half of the third.
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Postgame Quotes
Coach Gibson's opening statement:
"It says a lot about our team for these guys to take on a community service initiative this morning [Miracle League of Macon], participate in Commencement this afternoon and then come out and play such a complete game," said head coach Craig Gibson. "A lot of that boils down to our great seniors; I'm so happy for those guys.
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"All of our seniors played – and played well – tonight. [Steve] Taylor, [Drew] Lingo, [Carter] Varga, [Austin Lord]…the list goes on. Hopefully we can use this weekend to springboard into a quality in-state finale next Tuesday against Georgia State and then turn our focus to wrapping up conference play against The Citadel."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 34-18
» Alcorn State: 12-37
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Carter Varga (1-0)
» Loss: George Osborne III (0-7)
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Georgia State (6 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in Macon, Ga.)
» Alcorn State: vs. Texas Southern (3 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 in New Orleans, La.)
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Notables
» Mercer struck out Alcorn State 41 times in the series. The Bears have tallied at least 10 strikeouts in 29 games this season.
» Saturday also marked the 31st time that Mercer has recorded 10 or more hits in a game.
» Mercer drew a season-high 14 walks and did not issue any to Alcorn State.
» Taylor's 2-for-3 performance was his first career multi-hit game.
» Trey Truitt batted .778 with six doubles in nine at bats this series.
» Mercer needs one more win to clinch a ninth straight season of at least 35 victories.
» Mercer is one of two teams nationally (Tennessee Tech) with 15 players to hit at least one home run this season.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 73rd time in his last 77 games played.
» Jackson Ware extended his reached base streak to a career-long 18 games.
» Le Bassett extended his hit streak to a season-best 11 games.
» JT Thomas drew a season-high four walks and added three RBI despite going 0-for-1.
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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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The 8 p.m. contest was called after six and a half innings of play because it was a travel day for Alcorn State (12-37). First pitch was moved back two hours due to Mercer University's Commencement ceremony earlier in the afternoon. Mercer (34-18) earned its fourth weekend sweep of the season while outscoring the Braves, 46-7, over the three games.
Â
Mercer sent nine batters to the plate in each of the first two innings; a two-run single by Le Bassett and a pair of sacrifice flies from Brandon Michie and Alex Crotty led to four runs in a tone-setting first inning. Steven Taylor and Michie connected for back-to-back home runs in the third to make it a 10-run game heading into the fourth. Taylor's long ball, a two-run shot, was the first of his career.
Â
Chase Burks struck out six Braves and allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings on the mound before turning it over to the bullpen. Four pitchers – including seniors Carter Varga and Austin Lord – closed out the remaining four innings and struck out two batters apiece. Varga earned the win for his first decision of the year.
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Crotty delivered a two-run double in the fifth en route to a career-best four-RBI performance. The Bears then added six runs in the sixth when all nine batters reached base safely to open the inning; seven Bears drew walks while Taylor was hit by a pitch and Jackson Ware added a RBI single.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer batted .388 (38-for-98) with 46 runs scored and 20 extra-base hits in the three-game series against Alcorn State. Not to be outdone, the Bears' pitching staff struck out 41 batters while the Braves hit just .180 against them over 25 innings.
Â
Player of the Game
Steven Taylor submitted a career performance just hours after walking across the stage at Commencement. The senior went 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, all career-highs. After replacing RJ Yeager at shortstop in the third, Taylor belted his first career home run in the home half of the third.
Â
Postgame Quotes
Coach Gibson's opening statement:
"It says a lot about our team for these guys to take on a community service initiative this morning [Miracle League of Macon], participate in Commencement this afternoon and then come out and play such a complete game," said head coach Craig Gibson. "A lot of that boils down to our great seniors; I'm so happy for those guys.
Â
"All of our seniors played – and played well – tonight. [Steve] Taylor, [Drew] Lingo, [Carter] Varga, [Austin Lord]…the list goes on. Hopefully we can use this weekend to springboard into a quality in-state finale next Tuesday against Georgia State and then turn our focus to wrapping up conference play against The Citadel."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 34-18
» Alcorn State: 12-37
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Carter Varga (1-0)
» Loss: George Osborne III (0-7)
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Georgia State (6 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 in Macon, Ga.)
» Alcorn State: vs. Texas Southern (3 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 in New Orleans, La.)
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Notables
» Mercer struck out Alcorn State 41 times in the series. The Bears have tallied at least 10 strikeouts in 29 games this season.
» Saturday also marked the 31st time that Mercer has recorded 10 or more hits in a game.
» Mercer drew a season-high 14 walks and did not issue any to Alcorn State.
» Taylor's 2-for-3 performance was his first career multi-hit game.
» Trey Truitt batted .778 with six doubles in nine at bats this series.
» Mercer needs one more win to clinch a ninth straight season of at least 35 victories.
» Mercer is one of two teams nationally (Tennessee Tech) with 15 players to hit at least one home run this season.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 73rd time in his last 77 games played.
» Jackson Ware extended his reached base streak to a career-long 18 games.
» Le Bassett extended his hit streak to a season-best 11 games.
» JT Thomas drew a season-high four walks and added three RBI despite going 0-for-1.
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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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