Mercer University
Col. of Charleston
Baseball Drops Series Finale to College of Charleston, 17-13
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Mercer University baseball team dropped a high-scoring affair to the College of Charleston, 17-13, on Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer's offense got off to a strong start, plating a pair of runs in the opening frame. Trey Truitt started the rally with a lead-off double, before scoring on Ryan Hagan's RBI single to center. Kyle Lewis crossed the plate with the Bears' second run later in the inning thanks to Jackson Ware's sacrifice fly.
The Cougars pushed a run across in the bottom half of the frame after a dropped fly ball by Mercer, before adding four more runs in the third to grab a 5-2 lead. The Bears responded in the top of the fourth, as a grand slam by Danny Edgeworth and a two-run blast from Lewis pushed them out in front, 8-5.
However, College of Charleston responded with eight runs of its own in the home half to go back on top, 13-8. The Cougars tacked on another run in the fifth to take a 14-8 lead. Mercer produced three runs in the sixth to make it a 14-11 game, but College of Charleston grew its lead to 17-11 with three additional runs in the seventh. The Bears tacked on two more home runs, solo shots from Edgeworth and Jose Hernandez, but it would not be enough as the Cougars completed the sweep.
KEY TO THE GAME
After a pair of pitching duels, Sunday's game featured a track meet with the two teams combining for 30 runs on 27 hits. Despite the fireworks from both squads it was the College of Charleston that struck the biggest blow. The Cougars scored 12 runs over the third and fourth innings to give themselves at least a three-run cushion the rest of the way out.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Edgeworth head a breakout game for the Bears, going yard twice for the first time in his career. He finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with a career-high five RBIs. The junior now has three games with multiple hits and RBIs.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"It was just one of those days where we hit the ball really well, but they hit it better. You have those in baseball. We have to start helping ourselves, this is a good club that beat Florida State and Nebraska already this season so you have to play nine innings to beat them. We showed bits and pieces of being really good though, so we'll regroup and be ready for a good Georgia Southern at home on Tuesday night."
MERCER NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 19-14 all-time against the College of Charleston.
- Mercer reached double-digit hits for the ninth time this season, finishing with 13 on the day. The Orange and Black are now 6-3 when compiling 10 or more hits this year.
- The Bears' plated double-figure runs for the sixth time in 2016, moving to 5-1 in those contests.
- The Orange and Black finished with four home runs on the day and a total of six extra base hits. The Bears have now had multiple homers in nine contests this season, while falling one shy of their season-high of five in the series-clinching win over Austin Peay.
- Kyle Bialous was tagged with the loss for Mercer, his first of the year. The freshman saw his scoreless appearance streak snapped at three games.
- Truitt recorded multiple hits for the second straight day and the eighth time in his last 12 contests. He finished 3-for-5 at the dish with a team-high two doubles.
- Hagan pushed his hitting streak to a team-leading seven games, going 2-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. He now has two or more hits in seven games this season.
- Lewis hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season, as he drove in three runs on 1-for-5 hitting. He now has a team-high six multiple-RBI outings.
- Lezynski finished 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. The senior is 5-for-10 at the plate in his last three contests with two doubles and three RBIs.
- Hernandez's solo home run was his fourth long ball of the year. He is now one of four Mercer players with four or more home runs in 2016.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer falls to 9-7 on the year, while the College of Charleston moves to 11-4.
UP NEXT
The Bears return to Claude Smith Field on Tuesday, as they host Georgia Southern in a mid-week battle. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
