Mercer University
Furman
Baseball Drops Series Finale to Furman, 4-0
4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University baseball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end, falling to Furman, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Furman interrupted a pitcher's duel in the top of the fifth, ending Mercer starter Kevin Coulter's shutout bid on Carter Grote's RBI single for a 1-0 lead. The Paladins added an insurance run in the top of the eighth for a 2-0 advantage on Deon Sanders' sacrifice fly, before a Mercer error helped key a two-run ninth to push their lead to 4-0.
KEY TO THE GAME
Entering the game averaging over eight runs per contest, Mercer's offense stalled in the series finale as the Bears were held scoreless for the first time this season. Furman starter Matthew Quarles and reliever Jake Crawford combined to limit the Orange and Black to a season-low three hits in the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Coulter had his second straight quality start, as he was tagged with his second loss of the year despite only giving up one run in seven innings of action. The freshman scattered eight hits during that time, while striking out three.
NOTABLES
- Mercer fell to Furman for just the fourth time in the last 16 contests between the two programs and is now 17-6 all-time against the Paladins.
- The shutout is the first time that Bears have been kept off the scoreboard since dropping a 1-0 decision to Auburn in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional last June.
- Broom extended his nation-leading pitching appearance total to 29, throwing two innings to close out the contest for the Bears.
- Ryan Hagan, Kyle Lewis and Trey Truitt each recorded a single to pace the Bears' offense.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer falls to 25-16 overall and 10-5 in the SoCon, while Furman moves to 16-24 overall and 5-7 in league play.
UP NEXT
The Bears will be back in action this Tuesday, Apr. 26, as they travel to Savannah State for their final in-state mid-week battle of the year. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
