Mercer University
Winthrop
Bears Comeback Attempt Falls Short in 7-6 Loss
5/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Mercer baseball team's furious comeback attempted fell just short in a 7-6 defeat at Winthrop on Sunday afternoon at The Winthrop Ballpark.
Mercer (29-17) was down six runs after the second inning, but the Bears bullpen shutout the Winthrop (21-24) bats over six scoreless innings of relief to keep the game close.
Mercer got things started right away in the top of the first, with the first two batters of the frame reaching base. After a single up the middle by junior Billy Burns and a double to left-center by freshman Derrick Workman, senior Joe Winker collected an RBI groundout to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead.
Winthrop stormed back in the bottom half of the frame with six runs off Mercer starter Justice French. Three RBI singles, an RBI groundout and a two-RBI single by junior Chas Crane put the Eagles in front, 6-1.
Down 7-1 in the top of the third, the Orange and Black began to chip away at the Eagles lead by utilizing the long ball. Senior John Moreland stepped to the dish with runners on second and third and clubbed a three-run home run, his ninth of the season, to bring Mercer within three, at 7-4.
The Bears kept their comeback efforts alive in the top of fifth when senior Thomas Carroll poked an RBI single into right field to make the score 7-5 Winthrop.
Mercer continued to rally in the top of the ninth when junior Jacob Tanis launched a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field to cut the Eagles lead down to one, 7-6.
That would be as close as the Bears would get, however, as sophomore Matt Pierpont retired the final two batters of the game to pick up the win.
Winker continued his outstanding weekend at the plate on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. On the weekend, the Orlando, Fla. native went a combined 11-for-15 two RBI and four runs scored.
Senior J.T. Odom and junior Jacob Matthews each threw three scoreless innings of relief in a losing effort.
The Bears have all of next week off for finals and will return to the field on May 11 when it travels to Athens for a mid-week game against Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Foley Field.
