Mercer University
Liberty
Bears Fall to Liberty in Series Finale, 5-4
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – After dominating the first three games of the series, the Mercer offense couldn't scrap together enough runs late in a 5-4 loss to Liberty on Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.
Mercer (3-1) failed to score more than five runs in a game for the first time all season as Liberty starting pitcher Keegan Minza and a combination of two relievers held the Bears to just four runs on six hits.
At first glance, it appeared that Mercer was on its way to another blowout win after putting up two quick runs in the bottom of the first. An RBI double by sophomore Evan Boyd and an RBI groundout by senior Thomas Carroll put the home out in front 2-0.
Liberty responded in the top of the fourth, however, scoring three runs in the frame off senior starting pitcher Justice French to take its first lead since the fourth inning of game one of the four-game set.
French settled down after that but was forced out of the game in the top of the fifth when a line drive hit by Liberty third baseman Tyler Bream struck French in his pitching hand. The Suwanee, Ga. native allowed just the three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
With the Orange and Black down 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, junior preseason All-American Jacob Tanis stepped to the dish and did what he does best. Tanis ripped the first pitch he saw over the fence in left-center field for a two-run home run, tying the game back up at 4-4.
That is the way the game stayed until the top of the seventh when Liberty put runners on first and third with two outs. Sophomore David Teasley, trying to work out of the jam, attempted to pick off the runner at first but threw the ball away allowing a run to cross the plate, making the score 5-4 in favor of the visitors.
The combination of relievers Garrett Baker and Josh Richardson shut down the Mercer offense the rest of the way, allowing just two hits over 3.2 innings of relief.
Mercer is back in action when it welcomes in-state rival Georgia State to town on Tuesday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.
