Mercer University
Samford
Big Inning Dooms Mercer in Series-Opening Loss to Samford
4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer University baseball team saw a late lead evaporate in the eighth inning, as the Bears dropped an 11-5 decision to Samford in the series opener on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third, as Hunter Bening crossed the plate on a wild pitch before Kyle Lewis' sacrifice fly drove in Matt Meeder for a 2-0 advantage. Samford answered in the bottom half, cutting the deficit to one, 2-1, on Heath Quinn's RBI.
The two teams traded runs in the fifth, as the league's top two run producers each recorded a RBI with Lewis and Quinn each driving in a run to keep the Bears' lead at one, 3-2. Trey Truitt gave Mercer its biggest lead of the game in the seventh, as he followed a lead-off single by Meeder with a two-run bomb to left center for a 5-2 advantage.
Samford tied the game, 5-5, in the bottom of the eighth on Richard Greene's three-run shot to left field, before Frankie Navarrete made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot that gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 6-5. Samford kept the rally going, adding five more runs in the inning to run away with an 11-5 win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Truitt homered for the seventh time this season as part of a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. The sophomore now has 12 multiple-hit performances and five games with two or more RBIs this year.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"They have a great club with guys that are capable of taking the ball out of the park and they did that tonight in the eighth. We just have learn from it and continue to get better and tougher and be ready to play another one tomorrow."
"I thought we played seven great innings thanks in large part to a great start from Ryan Askew. He was fantastic tonight and really showed why he can be a Friday night guy for almost any team in the country. Hats off to him and he'll be ready to go next weekend against ETSU."
NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 37-28 lead in the all-time series with Samford.
- Ryan Askew recorded his second straight quality start and third of the season, scattering seven hits over six innings while giving up two runs. The junior struck out five batters in the contest, the fourth time he has reached the mark in 2016.
- Meeder finished 3-for-3, tying a career high for hits while also scoring a team-best two runs scored. He now has five multiple-hit performances.
- Bening recorded his seventh multiple-hit outing, as the junior finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Ryan Hagan and Lewis both reached base to extend their streaks, as they have now reached safely in 27 straight games.
- Lewis drove in two runs early for his team-leading 11th multiple RBI game of the season.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer slides to 16-11 overall and 2-2 in the SoCon, while Samford moves to 15-11 overall and 2-2 in league play.
UP NEXT
The Bears will continue their series with Samford tomorrow, Apr. 2, as first pitch is set for 3 p.m. EST at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
