Mercer University
Virginia Tech
Mercer Takes 2015 Opener Over Virginia Tech, 9-1
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team opened the 2015 season with an impressive 9-1 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday evening at Claude Smith Field.
The Bears used a six-run seventh inning and strong performances from pitchers Ryan Askew and Morgan Pittman to run away from Virginia Tech. Askew surrendered just one run on six hits in 5.2 innings of work to pick up the victory on the mound, while Pittman closed out the game with a scoreless 3.1 innings for his first save of the year.
"Our pitching was outstanding tonight," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Ryan Askew gave us a great start at home despite just starting his sophomore year. It was a great game early, but we were able to string some hits together and take advantage of our pitching."
Mercer got on the board in the second inning thanks to a blast by freshman Trey Truitt. The 6-foot-1 outfielder drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in his first collegiate at-bat, driving in fellow freshman Jackson Ware to give Mercer an early 2-0 lead.
Virginia Tech got a run back in the top of the third on Alex Perez's solo shot, but the Bears' pitching staff would work their way out of trouble in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the lead intact.
Kyle Lewis opened Mercer's six-run seventh with a run-scoring double, driving in Truitt for the team's third run. Lewis would cross the plate himself moments later on Charlie Madden's double to right center, before Madden scored off a wild pitch to add to the inning's tally. The Bears would go on to tack on three more runs in the inning, as Danny Edgeworth cleared the bases with a two-out double to left field for an 8-1 advantage.
The Bears closed out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth, as Conrad Cornell came up with a RBI-single to center field to plate Keith Pridgen.
Mercer tallied 10 hits on the night, including a team-leading three from Lewis. Madden and Truitt also recorded multi-hit performances for the Bears.
"I'm really proud of our young players tonight," added Gibson. "Jackson Ware scored two runs, Trey Truitt's first collegiate hit is a ball out of the park and both Kyle Lewis and Charlie Madden had good ball games. It is good to see the young guys clicking early and we are excited to get back out there tomorrow."
The Bears will look to add a second win in their season-opening series, as they continue play tomorrow, February 14, at Claude Smith Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
