Mercer University
Jacksonville
Jacksonville Uses the Long Ball to Down Mercer, 9-6
4/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – On the strength of three home runs, Jacksonville powered its way past the Mercer baseball team, 9-6, on Saturday evening at Claude Smith Field.
The Dolphins scored seven of their nine runs by way of the long ball to secure the win in support of senior Matthew Tomshaw, who worked eight innings and held the Bears offense in check for most of the night.
Jacksonville scored first when senior Chris Connelly hit a two-run home run off Mercer starter Matt McCall in the top of the second inning to go up 2-0.
With the score 3-0 in the top of the fifth, the Dolphins extended their advantage to 6-0 when freshman Jimmy Appleby poked a three-run home run just over the wall in left field.
Mercer tried to claw its way back into the game in the bottom half of the frame thanks to some two out offense. An RBI double by junior Billy Burns, an RBI single by classmate Jacob Tanis and a two-run home run by freshman Austin Barrett saw the Bears close to within two, at 6-4.
Jacksonville quelled any hope of a Bears rally in the very next inning when senior Esterlin Perozo struck a two-run home run to left field to put the Dolphins ahead to stay, at 8-4.
Tanis finished the game going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored while sophomore Travis Benn hit a two-run home run late, his third of the season.
Mercer concludes its three-game series with Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.
