Mercer University
Fla. Gulf Coast
Baseball Overwhelms FGCU in 15-6 Win
3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team scored five runs in the fifth and seven runs in the sixth to pull away for a 15-6 series opening win over FGCU on Friday evening at Claude Smith Field.
The 15-6 loss for FGCU (7-6, 2-2 A-Sun) is the worst conference loss suffered by the perennial A-Sun power since it joined the league in 2007.
Six Mercer (12-4, 3-1 A-Sun) starters tallied multi-hit efforts in the contest, led by sophomore Evan Boyd who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Sophomore David Teasley picked up the win for the Bears, his third of the season, giving up just one earned run on two hits over three innings of relief.
Things didn't look so promising for the Orange and Black early on, as the Eagles scored three runs in the top of the fifth to chase Mercer starter Matt McCall and increase their lead to 5-2.
That is when the best offense in the A-Sun went to work on FGCU starter Richie Erath and company. The Bears batted around in the fifth scoring five runs on five hits in the frame, including a three-run home run by freshman Derrick Workman, to move back in front 7-5.
The offensive firepower continued into the bottom of the sixth when once again Mercer batted around on its way to scoring seven runs in the inning. An error, three bases loaded walks and three RBI singles accounted for all the runs in the outburst that saw the Bears staked to a 14-5 lead once the final out was recorded.
Junior Jacob Matthews and freshman Brandon Barker each threw a scoreless inning of relief to wrap up the win.
Mercer is back in action on Saturday evening for game two of the three-game series against FGCU. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.
