Mercer University
Col. of Charleston
Baseball Falls to College of Charleston, 6-2 in Series Opener
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Mercer University baseball team dropped a 6-2 decision to the College of Charleston in the series opener at Patriots Point on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The College of Charleston scored the game's first two runs, plating one run in each of the first two innings. Mercer answered with a run in the top of the third and the fourth though. Trey Truitt drove in the Bears' first run, following up Hunter Bening's double with a RBI two-bagger to right center. The Orange and Black tied the game an inning later, as Ryan Hagan lifted a shot over the left field wall.
The Cougars pulled back out in front, 4-2, on Jake Maziar's two-run home run to center in what would be the deciding runs as the Bears were unable to get back on the scoreboard. The College of Charleston tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, as a sacrifice fly deep in the gap plated two insurance runs to close out the 6-2 game.
KEY TO THE GAME
Mercer's offense struggled to get things going in Friday night's opener, as it was limited to six hits on the night. The Orange and Black did plate two runs against Cougars' ace Nathan Helvey, who opened the year with 19.2 consecutive scoreless innings. The Bears were also held without a walk for the first time this year, after coming into the game ranked second in the nation with 96 free passes.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Hagan led the Bears' offense with two hits, including his third home run of the season. The junior also added a lead-off single in the ninth inning for his sixth multiple-hit performance of the year.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"I thought it was a great battle on Friday night between two good number one pitchers. Their guy was really good and didn't give us many chances. We had some good swings on him and we were able to make him pay once with one out of the park. However, there were able to come back with two runs on one swing of their own. C.J. (Martin) came in out of the pen and gave us a great inning, but you have to tip your cap to them they made all of the plays tonight. We just need to be ready to play a good game two tomorrow."
MERCER NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 19-12 all-time against the College of Charleston.
- Three of the Bears' six hits went for extra bases, as they pushed their season total to 52.
- Ryan Askew went six innings for the Bears in his fourth start of the year, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts. Despite the solid outing, he was tagged with his second loss of the season.
- C.J. Martin tossed a scoreless eighth for his third straight scoreless appearance, as he saw his ERA dip down to 1.80 for the year.
- Hagan pushed his hitting streak to five games with his 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
- Bening hit his fifth double of the season in the third, as he now ranks second on the team with that statistic.
- Truitt smacked his second double of the season, his sixth extra-base hit of the year.
- Kyle Lewis also kept his hitting streak alive, as the junior has now hit safely in each of his last four contests while recording at least one hit in 13 of the Bears' 14 games.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer falls to 9-5 on the year with the loss, while the College of Charleston moves to 9-4.
UP NEXT
The two teams will resume the series tomorrow afternoon, as they square off at 2:30 p.m. at Patriots Point.
