Mercer University
Liberty
Bears Fight Back for 6-4 Opening Day Comeback Win
2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The defending Atlantic Sun Champion Mercer baseball team opened its 2011 season in style with a gutsy 6-4 comeback win over Liberty at sold out Claude Smith Field on Friday evening.
Mercer (1-0) scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and held off a pesky Liberty (0-1) squad in the ninth for its first opening day win since 2007.
Sophomore reliever David Teasley got the win after allowing no runs in two dazzling innings of relief. Junior Patrick Eckelbarger took the loss after letting up both of the Bears' eighth inning runs.
Nine different Bears contributed hits in the contest, with junior Billy Burns leading the way with two base knocks from his leadoff position.
Things did not look good for the Orange and Black to start the game as it appeared the home team was suffering from some opening day butterflies. Two first inning errors, one by starting pitcher Matt McCall and one by shortstop Evan Boyd, and two RBI singles by the Flames saw the visitors jump out to an early 3-0 advantage.
McCall really settled in after that rocky first frame, however, allowing only one more run over the next five innings.
Down 4-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, Mercer began its comeback march thanks to the help of some new contributors to this years' club.
A double by sophomore Travis Benn and a walk by junior college transfer Matthew Black set the table for freshman Derrick Workman and he delivered, stroking a double down the left field line for his first collegiate hit and RBI. After a sacrifice fly by junior Jason Butts made the score 4-2, freshman DJ Johnson stepped to the dish and collected his first collegiate hit with an RBI double to dead center to bring the Bears within one, at 4-3.
Burns tied the game up moments later with an RBI double of his own, knotting the score at 4-4.
The big inning got Mercer right back in the game and took McCall off the hook as he delivered a quality opening day start. The Valdosta, Ga. native went six innings, allowing just three earned runs on seven hits while striking out five.
The game stayed tied at 4-4 going into the bottom of the eighth before the Mercer bats finally broke through. A walk to start the frame by junior Jacob Tanis and a sacrifice bunt by senior Joe Winker moved a runner into scoring position with only one out for senior Thomas Carroll. Carroll, who had been hitless up to this point, hit a clutch single up the middle scoring Tanis and giving the home team a 5-4 advantage. An RBI groundout by Butts extended Mercer's lead to 6-4 going into the ninth.
That is where Teasley took over. The Elberton, Ga. native picked up right where he left off last season by striking out three batters in the top of the ninth to seal the win for the Bears.
Senior Steven Evans got the start for Liberty and pitched well, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in six innings pitched.
Mercer returns to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader against Liberty. Game times are scheduled for 1 and 4 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.
