Mercer University
Samford
Baseball Takes Down Samford, 5-3, to Even Series
4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mercer University baseball team scored the final five runs of the game to record a 5-3 victory over Samford on Saturday afternoon, evening the three-game series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Samford raced out to an early 3-0 lead, scoring twice in the first inning before adding another run in the third. Mercer answered with a pair of runs in the third, as Hunter Bening and Charlie Madden each drove in a run. The Bears tied the game two innings later on Kyle Lewis' sacrifice fly.
Both pitching staffs locked in for the next three innings, before Mercer broke through in the ninth. Bening came up the heroics for the Bears, driving in the go-ahead runs with a two-run single with two outs. Conard Broom recorded the final three outs to close out one of the bullpen's top efforts of the season.
KEY TO THE GAME
After seeing a late lead slip through its fingers last night, Mercer's bullpen was sharp in the second game of the series. The Bears' relievers held Samford scoreless over the final six innings, limiting Bulldogs to just four hits during that time. Mercer's offense took advantage, as a Samford error and a pair of hits put the Orange and Black on top.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Austin Lord was a catalyst in Mercer's comeback with four scoreless innings of relief, giving up just three hits to keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard and flip the momentum. The junior now has seven straight scoreless appearances dating back mid-March.
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"I'm probably prouder of this team's effort today than I have ever been for any other team. We lost a big one yesterday late in the game and everything we stacked against us but our pitching was phenomenal today. Conrad (Cornell) got us off to a good start and (Josh) Knies was solid as well. Lord and Broom were very special to carry us for the rest of the game. Bening came through with a big hit to win it and we just really fought and battled for a chance to win the series tomorrow."
NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 38-28 lead in the all-time series with Samford, including wins in four of the last six meetings.
- Thanks to today's victory, Mercer has a chance to win its seventh weekend of the series of the year.
- Broom closed out the game for his third win of the season, as the freshman scattered one hit over 2.2 scoreless innings. The freshman struck out three batters to give him 16 strikeouts over his past four appearances.
- Bening came through with his second straight multiple-hit performance, going 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs. He has three or more RBIs in three of his last seven contests.
- Truitt reached base four times on Saturday, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of walks.
- Ryan Hagan and Lewis both reached base to extend their streaks, as they have now reached safely in 28 straight games.
- Matt Meeder led the team in runs for the second straight game, scoring twice after going 1-for-3 with one walk.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer improves to 17-11 overall and 3-2 in the SoCon, while Samford moves to 15-12 overall and 2-3 in league play.
UP NEXT
The Bears close out their series with Samford tomorrow, Apr. 3, at Joe Lee Griffin Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. EST.
