Mercer University
The Citadel
Mercer Advances to SoCon Title Game with 8-1 Win Over The Citadel
5/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Mercer University baseball team advanced to the title game of the Southern Conference Championship presented by Mountain Shore Properties with an 8-1 victory over The Citadel on Saturday afternoon at Joseph Riley Park.
Mercer becomes the first SoCon member to advance to the baseball championship game in its first year in the league, since UNCG accomplished the feat during the 1998 season. The Bears will play for the fifth conference tournament title championship in program history on Sunday with Mercer's third NCAA Tournament appearance in its last six years on the line.
"DJ Johnson was phenomenal this afternoon, coming through with several special moments when we needed him the most," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Devin Bonin made arguably the play of the game with a great catch in the fifth inning and of course we grinded out several great at-bats before Kyle Lewis hit the ball down the corner to really turn the game in our favor."
Johnson had his best outing of the season to help carry the Bears, opening the game with seven consecutive scoreless innings. The senior finished the contest with one run on four hits while striking out six batters to improve to 2-3 on the season.
Mercer, who came one hit shy of a SoCon Championship record yesterday, showed its offensive firepower late in the game. The Bears recorded all nine of their hits in the final four innings of play to pull away, as eight players found the hit column including Danny Edgeworth's second straight multiple-hit performance.
The Bears, who were held hitless through the first four frames, essentially won the game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to one of their best rallies of the tournament. Mercer put two runners in scoring position early in the frame, after a lead-off walk from Edgeworth and a ground-rule double by Trey Truitt.
Nate Moorhouse continued the rally with a walk to load the bases, before back-to-back RBI singles by Matt Meeder and Devin Bonin gave the Bears a 2-0 advantage. Lewis continued the scoring with a two-run double down the left field line, while Charlie Madden handed Mercer a 6-0 lead with his SoCon-leading eighth RBI of the tournament.
The Citadel scored a run in the top of the eighth to make it a 6-1 game, but Morgan Pittman would get the final out to strand a pair of runners. However, Mercer answered in the home half of the inning to round out the scoring, as Edgeworth followed a triple by Madden with a two-run shot to left center for an 8-1 lead.
Mercer will take on the winner of this afternoon's Samford/Wofford game on Sunday afternoon. The game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN3, is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
"It is going to be another great ballgame tomorrow, as we'll face the winner of two outstanding clubs," added Gibson. "We are hoping we have one great game left in us to claim the SoCon title."
