Mercer University
Radford
Baseball Rallies Past Radford, 10-7, to Claim 2016 Opener
2/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team scored seven runs in its final two trips to the plate, rallying past Radford, 10-7, in Friday night's battle of 2015 NCAA Regional participants at Claude Smith Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Radford jumped out to an early lead thanks to the bat of Shane Johnsonbaugh, as the senior smacked a solo shot in the first inning before pushing the Highlanders ahead, 2-0, on a sacrifice fly in the third.
Mercer took advantage of a couple errors in the fourth to knot the game at 2-2, as Kyle Lewis, who reached on a double down the left field line, scored on an error before Jackson Ware plated Charlie Madden on a sacrifice squeeze.
Each team traded runs in the fifth, but Radford pulled away with two runs in the sixth and one more score in the seventh on Johnsonbaugh's second solo jack of the night for a 6-3 advantage.
The Bears roared back in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of five free passes (four walks and one hit by pitch) for a five-run rally. Mercer tacked on another two runs in the bottom of the eighth off the bat of Ware.
The Highlanders made it a three-run game in the ninth with their third solo home run of the game, but freshman right Taylor Lobus came up with two big outs to close out the contest.
STAT OF THE GAME
Walks were the theme of Mercer's opening day, as the Bears drew an impressive nine on the evening including seven after the fifth inning of play. Three of those walks came in bases-loaded situations during a key seventh inning rally. Danny Edgeworth, Howard Joe and Lewis each drew two walks to pace the Bears.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Lewis picked up where he left off a year ago, reaching base a game-high four times en route to three runs scored on Friday night. The junior finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a single for his 33rd career multiple-hit performance, while also drawing a pair of walks.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"Ryan Askew pitched great on Friday and I thought our bullpen was very strong as well. Conard Broom faced two hitters and (Austin) Lord was really good for us late. Taylor Lobus came in and had a great finish for us to get the save."
"Offensively, it wasn't our best day, but credit their pitchers for throwing some great pitches. Overall though I was really pleased to get the win on our first day."
"We never panicked after we got down early, but you are never a good club until you can come from behind. Our guys had to do it in game one, but we had some good at-bats and grinded out some walks. We had a hit batter and then Jackson (Ware) got a big hit up the middle and before you know it we have 10 runs on the scoreboard."
MERCER NOTABLES
- Mercer improves to 10-3 in season openers under head coach Craig Gibson.
- The Bears are now 1-0 in their all-time series with Radford, while moving to 62-52 all-time against Big South opponents.
- The Orange and Black's nine walks are the most the program has had since drawing 12 against Northern Kentucky during the 2014 campaign.
- Mercer went 6-for-10 with a runner on third base tonight.
- Junior Ryan Askew gave up just three earned runs in the contest, while making his second-straight opening day start.
- Austin Lord recorded the third win of his career, giving up one run on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.
- Lobus picked up a save in his collegiate debut, surrendering one run in two innings of action while striking out a pair.
- Ryan Hagan also had a multiple-hit effort on Friday, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate thanks to a pair of singles including a run-scoring knock in the fifth.
- Ware paced the Bears with three RBIs, his seven multiple-RBI contest of his career.
- Edgeworth had his 10th multiple-run performance in the last two seasons, while Madden pushed his total to six during that span.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer improves to 1-0 on the year, while the loss drops Radford to 0-1.
UP NEXT
The two teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon, as second game of Mercer's series with Radford is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
