Mercer University
UNC Greensboro
Baseball Takes Down UNCG, 12-1, in Series Opener
4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team scored 10 runs over the final three innings to run away with a 12-1 victory over North Carolina-Greensboro in Friday night's series opener at Claude Smith Field.
Mercer (26-16, 11-4 SoCon) continued its late night dominance, using its 13th double-digit scoring contest to improve to 12-1 in night contests this season.
Despite the offensive fireworks late in the game, it was the play of senior pitcher Eric Nyquist that put the Bears in position for the fifth win in their last six contests. The right-hander outdueled UNCG starter Ryan Clark, the Preseason SoCon Pitcher of the Year, for his fifth win of the season, surrendering just one run over 5.2 innings of work.
"It was a great series opener tonight," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Their guy (Clark) was outstanding, but Eric was just as effective on his way to earning a big league win. Offensively, we won some key at-bats. Nate (Moorhouse) had a huge home run for us in the sixth and we were able to put a string of hits together late in the game."
Mercer recorded 11 hits in the contest, including a game-high three from sophomore Kyle Lewis. The center fielder reached base four times, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs on the night. Howard Joe added two hits including a three-run home run, while Matt Meeder reached three times on the strength of a 2-for-4 night at the plate.
Morgan Pittman picked up a crucial final out in the sixth to maintain a one-run lead and continued to dominate over the next two frames. The senior lefty finished the contest with 2.1 hitless innings, allowing just one base runner. Ben Lumsden struck out two in a scoreless ninth to close out the victory.
The Bears struck first with a run in the bottom of the second, as Charlie Madden's two-out double to right center plated Trey Truitt for an early 1-0 lead. Mercer added another run one inning later, taking a 2-0 advantage in the third on Danny Edgeworth's RBI single.
UNCG (17-20, 8-8 SoCon) got on the board in the fourth, putting together a pair of hits to lead off the frame before cutting the lead in half, 2-1, with a run on a wild pitch. However, the Bears answered two frames later, pushing their lead back to two, 3-1, on Nate Moorhouse's solo shot to center field.
Lewis made it a 4-1 game in the seventh with a RBI single in the seventh, before the flood gates opened in the eighth inning. Mercer plated eight runs in the inning to push its record to 6-1 in home league contests.
Meeder started the scoring with a run-scoring single, before Devin Bonin drew a bases-loaded walk for the second run of the inning. Lewis cleared the bases moments later, belting a double off the left field wall for a 9-1 lead. Joe wrapped up the scoring with his fifth long ball of the year to help the Bears move to 5-1 in SoCon series openers.
"Our bullpen was great again tonight and we played strong defensively as well, so we're hoping to carry this momentum into what will be another great game at home tomorrow," added Gibson.
The Bears will resume the series with UNCG tomorrow afternoon at Claude Smith Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Stay tuned to MercerBears.com for updates on any potential weather-related schedule changes.
