Mercer University
Florida A&M
Baseball Falls to Florida A&M, 14-7
3/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team saw its four game winning streak come to an end, falling to Florida A&M, 14-7, on Wednesday night at Claude Smith Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer jumped out to an early lead for the second straight game, as Danny Edgeworth doubled down the left field line to plate Ryan Hagan for a 1-0 lead. However, the Rattlers answered with five runs in the top of the second, including a two-run shot from Marlon Gibbs to jump out in front, 5-1.
The two teams traded one-run innings, before the Bears broke through with a three-run fourth. Matt Meeder smacked his second homer of the year, a two-run shot, while Hunter Bening drove in another run to make it a 6-5 game. Florida A&M responded its next time up though, scoring three runs of its own to return the lead to four, 9-5.
Mercer cut the lead to two, 9-7, on Ben Upton's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh. However, Florida A&M answered again with a huge five-run eighth to put the game away and end the Bears' winning streak.
KEY TO THE GAME
Florida A&M took a page of Mercer's playbook with several big innings. The Rattlers had three innings of three runs or more, as the Bears gave out a season-high total of 10 free passes (seven walks, three hit by pitch).
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Trey Truitt had a season-high three hits to lead the Bears' offense, finishing 3-for-4 on the night. The sophomore is now 10 of his last 16 at the plate with two home runs and six RBIs during that stretch.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"The challenge for us is to play well every day. We have some young guys that have to learn to put good games back-to-back, but you have to give Florida A&M credit. They came in, put a bunch of hits together, threw strikes and beat us. We were able to get close, but they pulled away in the eighth to seal the deal."
MERCER NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 81-26-1 all-time against Florida A&M, after falling for just the third time in the last 28 meetings.
- Mercer compiled 10 hits on the night, reaching double-figures in the hits column for the fourth straight game and the fifth time this season.
- Meeder's home run on Wednesday was the fourth of his career. The homer stretches his hitting streak to eight games to open the season.
- Kyle Lewis' single in the third inning matched Meeder with a team-leading eight-game hitting streak to start the year.
- Upton's solo shot is the first of his Mercer career and marks the second straight contest that he has driven in a run.
- Bening finished 2-for-4 in his fourth start of the season. The junior has taken advantage of those opportunities, batting 6-for-11 with two extra-base hits when earning the start.
- Kyle Bialousz, Austin Lord and Andrew Kane each made a scoreless appearance to lead the Bears' pitching staff. The scoreless outing for Bialousz and Kane helps the freshmen maintain a spotless 0.00 ERA.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer slides to 7-2 on the year, while Florida A&M improves to 4-5.
UP NEXT
The Bears will wrap up their 12-game homestand this weekend, as they welcome Austin Peay to town for a three-game series at Claude Smith Field. The series opens up Friday, Mar. 4
