Baseball Overpowers UNF in 11-6 Win

Saturday, April 16

1 pm

Mercer University

North Fla.

4/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Mercer baseball team pounded out five home runs to slug its way to an 11-6 Atlantic Sun win over North Florida on Saturday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.

The Bears five home runs are the most in a single game since they drilled eight home runs in a 17-5 win over Liberty on February 19.

Mercer improves to 24-14 overall and 9-10 in the A-Sun with the win while North Florida drops to 21-15 and 11-9 in A-Sun action with the loss.

Saturday afternoon's game started almost exactly the same as Friday night's contest thanks to some early fireworks by the Bears. Junior Jacob Tanis and senior John Moreland each clubbed two-run home runs and junior Billy Burns chipped in with a solo shot in the top of the first to help Mercer jump out to an early 5-0 advantage.

UNF responded in the bottom of the second with a five spot of its own to tie the game back up at 5-5.

The Bears bounced back to re-take the lead in the top of the third when Moreland collected an RBI groundout and Burns slapped an RBI single to right to make the score 7-5.

The Orange and Black extended its lead in the top of the fifth with another impressive display of power. Tanis and senior Joe Winker both hammered solo home runs to give the Bears a 9-5 lead. For Tanis, the long ball was his second of the day and 43^rd of his career, moving him into a tie for the eighth-most home runs hit in a career A-Sun Conference history.

The offensive onslaught continued for Mercer in the top of the sixth when sophomore Evan Boyd and freshman DJ Johnson led off the frame with back-to-back doubles to increase its lead up to 10-5.

Senior J.T. Odom backed the Bears bats with some spectacular relief pitching. The St. Mary's Ga. native came on for Mercer starter Brandon Barker in the second inning and allowed just one run in a career-high seven innings pitched to pick up his first win of the season.

Five Mercer hitters had multi-hit performances in the win, led by Tanis who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Mercer concludes its series with UNF with game three on Sunday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Harmon Stadium.