Mercer University
Western Caro.
Baseball Drops 3-0 Decision to Western Carolina
4/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team failed to clinch its fourth straight Southern Conference series, falling to Western Carolina, 3-0, in the second game of the league series on Saturday at Claude Smith Field.
Mercer (21-14, 8-3 SoCon) saw its three-game SoCon winning streak come to an end, despite a strong performance from its pitching staff.
Starter Grant Papelian led the way for the Bears, settling in after a two-run first inning to record his third straight quality start. The senior left-hander was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs in seven innings, while surrendering just four hits over his last six frames.
Connor Herd, Austin Lord and Carter Varga combined to toss two scoreless innings to close out the game, as Mercer's bullpen has given up just two runs in 9.2 innings this weekend.
The Bears' lineup was held in check by Western Carolina (15-15, 7-4 SoCon), tallying five hits just one day after scoring 11 runs on 12 hits in Friday's series-opening victory.
Mercer did have its opportunities though, matching a season-high with eight walks including two from one of the nation's leaders, Matt Meeder. However, the Bears left 10 runners on base including a pair of bases-loaded situations in the middle innings.
Meeder and Jackson Ware each reached base to extend their streaks to 18 and 12 games respectively, as both found the hits column on the afternoon. Charlie Madden and Nate Moorhouse each drew a pair of walks, while Trey Truitt recorded the team's lone base hit, a double in the seventh.
"Grant (Papelian) gave us a great start at home with seven strong innings," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We had some chances, but just couldn't win any moments offensively. To their credit though, they made two big double plays and their pitcher was really good today."
For the second straight game, Western Carolina raced out to an early lead. The Catamounts put together four hits in the opening frame, before pushing two runs across on RBI hits from Bradley Strong and Brett Pope for a 2-0 lead.
Western Carolina added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as Matt Smith plated Austin Atwell with a double down the left field line.
"We have had two hard fought games to open the series, so we have to rebound and come back for a third game that will be a battle to see who wants this series the most," added Gibson.
The Bears will wrap up the weekend against WCU tomorrow afternoon at Claude Smith Field, as they look to stay atop the league standings with a victory on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
