Thursday, May 24
Greenville, S.C.
4 p.m.
Mercer University
15
vs
0
Western Carolina
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballPhoto by: Southern Conference
Bears Blast Western Carolina at #SoConBB Tournament
5/24/2018 8:08:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer advances to winner’s bracket semifinal with 15-0 victory
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Fifth-seeded Mercer vaulted itself into the winner's bracket semifinal of the Southern Conference Championship, presented by Holston Gases, with a 15-0 defeat of No. 9 Western Carolina on Thursday at Fluor Field.
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The Bears (37-20) needed just seven innings to best the tournament's Cinderella team on Thursday after Western Carolina (9-46) had upended No. 8 The Citadel and top-seeded UNCG over the past two days. Mercer awaits the winner of No. 2 Samford and No. 3 Wofford, which it will play at 12 p.m.
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Mercer scored in each of the first three innings, claiming a six-run advantage and never looked back. Jackson Ware's torrid start to the tournament continued with a two-run single in the first inning. The Bears then turned to small ball with four sacrifice bunts over the following two innings; Alex Hanson and Le Bassett both laid down safety squeeze bunts to score JT Thomas and Trey Truitt in the second and third innings, respectively.
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The six-run cushion provided Christian Vann with plenty of room to work with in his 11th start on the mound. Vann escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third after Western Carolina loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Mercer caught a break as the Catamounts' Will Prater was called out while advancing to third base when he was hit by Luke Robinson's hit to the left-side. Bryson Parks was stranded at third base because of the dead-ball call, keeping Vann unscathed.
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Vann (5-3) went 5.1 innings to earn the win before turning it over to Robert Broom and Nick Spear, who combined for the final 1.2 frames in relief.
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A six-run sixth inning, highlighted by two-RBI singles by Brandon Michie and Conrad Cornell, put the game out of reach. Trey Truitt provided the final firework of the eventful afternoon with a two-run home run over the Green Monster in left field.
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Stat of the Game
Mercer became the first team in SoCon Tournament history to earn two run-rule victories in a single tournament. The Bears have three overall run-rule victories since joining the conference in 2015. The Bears have also outscored their opponents 34-0 through the first two contests and are just one run shy of tying their program record for most runs in a conference tournament.
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Player of the Game
Trey Truitt (3-for-5) tallied a team-high three hits and added three runs scored, two RBI and one stolen base on the afternoon. The senior has six hits in two games to open the tournament.
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Postgame Quotes
Craig Gibson on the offensive outburst:
"We're getting closer [offensively] and receiving a lot of competitive at bats out of guys who are stepping up – Alex Crotty and Conrad Cornell are a pair," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Our top seven guys have been really good. This is a pretty good lineup that's clicking right now."
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Gibson on Mercer playing its best baseball currently:
"I always thought this team could put itself in a position to do great things, and so far, we've done everything we can to do just that. I don't think Christian Vann was at his best today – we've seen better from him – but he was certainly good enough to make it happen for us on the mound. [Robert] Broom and [Nick] Spear were really good in the bullpen and defensively we're doing a nice job.
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Trey Truitt on the offensive outburst:
"We always knew we were capable of this. When we have two or three guys going in our lineup, we're dangerous. But when we have a full lineup firing at once, it makes things really fun for us. We're going to keep putting it on them, be humble and do our thing."
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Jackson Ware on his strong start to the SoCon Tournament:
"It feels good to me right now; I feel really good in the [batter's] box and am just trusting my approach. I'm swinging it well with two strikes and if I'm walked, I know I have good bats behind me to come up in situations. We're feeding off of one another right now."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 37-20
» Western Carolina: 9-46
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (5-3)
» Loss: Corey Sikes (0-5)
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Up Next
» Mercer: vs. winner of #2 Samford/#3 Wofford (12 p.m. Saturday, May 26 at Fluor Field)
» Western Carolina: vs. #6 ETSU (3:30 p.m. Friday, May 25 at Fluor Field)
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 10-4 all-time at the SoCon Tournament.
» The Bears are one run shy of tying their program record for most runs scored in a conference tournament. Mercer scored a program-record 35 runs in the 2015 SoCon Tournament.
» Mercer reached the 600-strikeout mark for the season Thursday. The Bears lead the nation in strikeouts thrown.
» Mercer improved to 2-2 against Western Carolina in SoCon Tournament play.
» Truitt has six career home runs in the SoCon Tournament.
» Five different Bears laid down five sacrifice bunts. JT Thomas added a sacrifice fly.
» Thomas led Mercer with three RBI.
» Conrad Cornell (2-for-3) tacked on two RBI. He has five for the tournament after entering the week just four for the season.
» Mercer has tallied 35 hits through its first 14 innings at the SoCon Tournament.
» Ware opened the SoCon Tournament with hits in his first seven at bats.
» Ware extended his career-long reached base streak to 23 games.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 78th time in the last 82 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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The Bears (37-20) needed just seven innings to best the tournament's Cinderella team on Thursday after Western Carolina (9-46) had upended No. 8 The Citadel and top-seeded UNCG over the past two days. Mercer awaits the winner of No. 2 Samford and No. 3 Wofford, which it will play at 12 p.m.
Â
Mercer scored in each of the first three innings, claiming a six-run advantage and never looked back. Jackson Ware's torrid start to the tournament continued with a two-run single in the first inning. The Bears then turned to small ball with four sacrifice bunts over the following two innings; Alex Hanson and Le Bassett both laid down safety squeeze bunts to score JT Thomas and Trey Truitt in the second and third innings, respectively.
Â
The six-run cushion provided Christian Vann with plenty of room to work with in his 11th start on the mound. Vann escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third after Western Carolina loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Mercer caught a break as the Catamounts' Will Prater was called out while advancing to third base when he was hit by Luke Robinson's hit to the left-side. Bryson Parks was stranded at third base because of the dead-ball call, keeping Vann unscathed.
Â
Vann (5-3) went 5.1 innings to earn the win before turning it over to Robert Broom and Nick Spear, who combined for the final 1.2 frames in relief.
Â
A six-run sixth inning, highlighted by two-RBI singles by Brandon Michie and Conrad Cornell, put the game out of reach. Trey Truitt provided the final firework of the eventful afternoon with a two-run home run over the Green Monster in left field.
Â
Stat of the Game
Mercer became the first team in SoCon Tournament history to earn two run-rule victories in a single tournament. The Bears have three overall run-rule victories since joining the conference in 2015. The Bears have also outscored their opponents 34-0 through the first two contests and are just one run shy of tying their program record for most runs in a conference tournament.
Â
Player of the Game
Trey Truitt (3-for-5) tallied a team-high three hits and added three runs scored, two RBI and one stolen base on the afternoon. The senior has six hits in two games to open the tournament.
Â
Postgame Quotes
Craig Gibson on the offensive outburst:
"We're getting closer [offensively] and receiving a lot of competitive at bats out of guys who are stepping up – Alex Crotty and Conrad Cornell are a pair," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Our top seven guys have been really good. This is a pretty good lineup that's clicking right now."
Â
Gibson on Mercer playing its best baseball currently:
"I always thought this team could put itself in a position to do great things, and so far, we've done everything we can to do just that. I don't think Christian Vann was at his best today – we've seen better from him – but he was certainly good enough to make it happen for us on the mound. [Robert] Broom and [Nick] Spear were really good in the bullpen and defensively we're doing a nice job.
Â
Trey Truitt on the offensive outburst:
"We always knew we were capable of this. When we have two or three guys going in our lineup, we're dangerous. But when we have a full lineup firing at once, it makes things really fun for us. We're going to keep putting it on them, be humble and do our thing."
Â
Jackson Ware on his strong start to the SoCon Tournament:
"It feels good to me right now; I feel really good in the [batter's] box and am just trusting my approach. I'm swinging it well with two strikes and if I'm walked, I know I have good bats behind me to come up in situations. We're feeding off of one another right now."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 37-20
» Western Carolina: 9-46
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (5-3)
» Loss: Corey Sikes (0-5)
Â
Up Next
» Mercer: vs. winner of #2 Samford/#3 Wofford (12 p.m. Saturday, May 26 at Fluor Field)
» Western Carolina: vs. #6 ETSU (3:30 p.m. Friday, May 25 at Fluor Field)
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Notables
» Mercer improved to 10-4 all-time at the SoCon Tournament.
» The Bears are one run shy of tying their program record for most runs scored in a conference tournament. Mercer scored a program-record 35 runs in the 2015 SoCon Tournament.
» Mercer reached the 600-strikeout mark for the season Thursday. The Bears lead the nation in strikeouts thrown.
» Mercer improved to 2-2 against Western Carolina in SoCon Tournament play.
» Truitt has six career home runs in the SoCon Tournament.
» Five different Bears laid down five sacrifice bunts. JT Thomas added a sacrifice fly.
» Thomas led Mercer with three RBI.
» Conrad Cornell (2-for-3) tacked on two RBI. He has five for the tournament after entering the week just four for the season.
» Mercer has tallied 35 hits through its first 14 innings at the SoCon Tournament.
» Ware opened the SoCon Tournament with hits in his first seven at bats.
» Ware extended his career-long reached base streak to 23 games.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 78th time in the last 82 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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