Mercer University
Austin Peay
Baseball Claims Series with Sunday's 14-4 Win over Austin Peay
3/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team claimed its third straight weekend series with a 14-4 victory over Austin Peay on Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer's offense picked up where it left off on Saturday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Lewis doubled down the left field line to score Ryan Hagan, who reached on a double of his own, for the game's first run. Madden drove Lewis home with a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left field for a 3-0 advantage.
Madden drove in his third run of the game in the bottom of third, as his sacrifice fly scored Hunter Bening from third. Trey Truitt pushed the lead to 5-0 one inning later, smacking a solo shot over the wall in right center.
Austin Peay broke up Kevin Coulter's shutout bid in the top of the fifth, as Clayton Smithson hit a two-run homer to right to cut the deficit to three, 5-2. However, the two teams would trade solo shots before the Bears broke out with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to blow the game open, 10-3. The Governors scored another run in the top of the eighth, but Mercer responded with four more runs in the home half to close out the 14-4 game.
KEY TO THE GAME
Mercer's bats came out early in the series finale, racking up 15 hits in the contest. The Bears had a season-high four players record three hits on the afternoon, as Bening, Lewis, Madden and Truitt each accomplished the feat.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Madden had a career day for the Bears, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a career-high two home runs and five RBIs. The junior finished the series with three home runs and nine RBIs.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"It was probably one of our better outings of the year. (Kevin) Coulter was outstanding. He was really good the first weekend, but didn't have his best stuff last Sunday. Today he had a great game. Our bullpen and defense were phenomenal and of course what can you say offensively as a bunch of guys had big games for us."
"It looks like the guys are starting to go offensively and hopefully we can keep it going on Tuesday night. Lewis was unbelievable and worth six runs, while Bening was great all weekend. Madden and Truitt both had two balls out of the park today, so it was a great team effort."
"It means a lot to take the series against these guys. They are a NCAA Regional type of club and will be at the top of their league. For us to take two out of three is big before we play a good Georgia State team on Tuesday and another NCAA Regional team (College of Charleston) next weekend."
MERCER NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 2-1 in the all-time series with Austin Peay.
- Mercer is now 5-0 when scoring 10 or more runs this season.
- The Orange and Black's pitching staff struck out 11 batters on the afternoon, the fifth time this season that the staff has reached double-digit strikeouts.
- The Bears outhit Austin Peay for the third straight game, posting 15 hits on the afternoon. Mercer has now reached double-figures in the hits column a total of eight times this season including in each of the past seven contests.
- Kevin Coulter recorded his second win of the season, after giving up just three runs in 5.2 innings of work. The freshman opened the game with four straight scoreless frames and finished with four strikeouts.
- Conard Broom had his best outing this season, striking out five of the eight batters he faced in the game. The freshman held the Governors hitless over his two innings of work, while walking two.
- Nick Spear struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth to close out the victory.
- Truitt finished 3-for-4 at the plate on the strength of a career-high two home runs to go along with three RBIs. The sophomore has had two or more hits in six of his last eight games including three multiple-RBI efforts.
- Lewis had three hits, all of the extra base variety, for the second time in as many games, as he had two RBI doubles as well as a solo home run. He now has seven multiple-hit games and four games with two or more RBIs.
- Bening fell a home run shy of the cycle, as the junior came up with a triple, double and a single while driving in one run.
- Steven Taylor came through a pinch hit, RBI single in the ninth, his first career RBI.
- Matt Meeder reached base twice with a walk and a hit by pitch to reach base for the 20th straight game.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer wins its third straight weekend series to improve to 9-3 on the year, while Austin Peay drops to 5-6.
UP NEXT
The Bears will hit the road for the first time this season, as they travel up I-75 to face Georgia State on Tuesday, March 8. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
