Mercer University
Western Caro.
Baseball Drops Series Opener to WCU, 9-7
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Mercer University baseball team fell to Western Carolina, 9-7, in the series opener on Friday night at Hennon Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer scored the game's opening run, as Trey Truitt crossed the plate on a ground out in the top of the first. Western Carolina answered in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of an error to push two runs across for a 2-1 advantage.
The Bears tied the contest in the top of the third on Ryan Hagan's RBI, but WCU would once again answer in the home half with a solo home run by Caleb Robinson for a 3-2 lead.
Mercer turned to the long ball to regain the lead in top of the fifth. Hagan started the fireworks with a three-run blast over the trees in left center field, before Hunter Bening made it back-to-back bombs with a solo shot to nearly the same spot for a 6-3 lead.
The Catamounts got a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to two, but Truitt pushed the lead back to three, 7-4, with a solo shot to left field. The Bears' lead was once again trimmed in the sixth though, as WCU got a two-run single with two outs to pull within one, 7-6. Western Carolina kept the momentum rolling, adding two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to go on top, 9-7.
KEY TO THE GAME
In a game that featured plenty of offense, it was two Mercer errors that proved to be the difference in the game. An error by the Bears in the first allowed two runs to score, while another in the eighth plated a key insurance run.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Hagan drove in four of the team's seven runs in Friday's series opener with three of those coming via his sixth long ball of the year. The junior now has seven multiple-RBI efforts this season.
NOTABLES
- The all-time series between the two programs is now tied at 3-3.
- The Bears, who lead the nation in walks, drew 10 on the night, reaching double figures for the ninth time this season.
- Truitt recorded his 18th multiple-hit performance of the season, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate which included his 11th long ball.
- Kyle Lewis reached base in his first five plate appearances, drawing three walks as well as two singles for his 22 multiple-hit effort of the year.
- Bening's home run in the fifth was his fourth of the season.
- Danny Edgeworth reached base four times on Friday, going 1-for-2 at the plate while being hit by a pitch on three occasions.
RECORDS UPDATE
Mercer falls to 26-17 overall and 10-6 in SoCon play, while Western Carolina improves to 22-19 overall and 12-4 in league play.
UP NEXT
The Bears continue their series with WCU tomorrow, as the two teams are scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
