Friday, March 17
Greenville, N.C.
4 p.m.
Mercer University
at
East Carolina
Bears Set for Series Clash with #8 East Carolina
3/16/2017 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
Series opens with Friday doubleheader in Greenville
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Mercer heads north this weekend for a three-game non-conference series with nationally ranked East Carolina at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
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Mercer (14-4) is coming off a 12-inning 4-3 victory at Georgia on Tuesday, which completed its two-game season sweep of the Bulldogs The Bears are 4-3 record on the road and are winners in six of their last seven games overall.
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East Carolina (13-4) is ranked among the top 25 of all six major polls (8/Baseball America, 10/Perfect Game, 17/USA Today, 18/Collegiate Baseball, 18/D1Baseball and 18/NCBWA) and has lost only once since a season-opening series sweep at the hands of Ole Miss.
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The teams will play a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday due to pending inclement weather conditions in the Greenville area Saturday. Sunday's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (14-4) at East Carolina (13-4)
Location: Greenville, N.C. | Clark-LeClair Stadium
Game 1: Friday, March 17 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Game 2: Friday, March 17 | 7:45 p.m. (Approximately) | Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Game 3: Sunday, March 19 | 1 p.m. |Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Projected Starters:
Game 1: RHP Ryan Askew (3-0, 3.12) vs. LHP Jake Agnos (0-0, 0.60)
Game 2: LHP Austin Cox (1-1, 6.62) vs. RHP Trey Benton (2-0, 1.45)
Game 3: RHP Chase Burks (0-0, 3.00) vs. LHP Jacob Wolfe (2-0, 3.32)
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Scouting the Pirates
ECU enters the weekend series with a 13-4 record, having won nine of its last 10 games. The Pirates are 9-1 at Clark-LeClair Stadium this season. The three starting pitchers Mercer is set to face are a combined 4-0 in nine starts while Benton has a team-best 24 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Five Pirates are hitting .314 or better.
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A New Face
The front end of Friday's doubleheader will mark the first all-time meeting between the Bears and Pirates.
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It Might Be the Whole Team
Mercer is off to a hot start this year thanks, in part, to a powerful offense that quickly came out of hibernation. Entering this week's play, Mercer was ranked in the top 25 in several categories showcasing just how tough the Bears are this year.
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Category                                              Nat'l       SoCon       Stat
Sacrifice Bunts (288 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 30
Home Runs (293 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
Doubles (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 47
Base on Balls (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 107
Runs (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 162
Slugging Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.537
Scoring (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9.0
Home Runs Per Game (287 ranked)Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.72
On Base Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.427
Stolen Bases (288 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 34
Hits (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 200
Double Plays (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18
Stolen Bases Per Game                       17                  2       1.89
WL Pct (286 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.778
Batting Average                                     23                  2    0.316
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Southern Power
Early on this season Mercer has found its hot bats as the Bears lead the Southern Conference in several offensive categories including home runs (31), home runs per game (1.72), on-base percentage (.427), scoring (9.0), slugging percentage (.537) and hits (200).
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And Fire Power
The early success is not limited to Mercer's hitters as the Bears' pitching staff has a SoCon-leading 168 strikeouts, wins (14), innings pitched (163.0), shutouts (2) and is second in earned run average (4.64).
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King of the Hill
Mercer enters this weekend's action with a 14-4 mark and remains at the top of the standings in the Southern Conference. That mark includes a perfect 4-0 record against intrastate opponents after the Bears completed the two-game season sweep of Georgia with a 12-inning 4-3 win Tuesday in Athens. Mercer is 9-1 at home as well, having earned series wins over Maryland Eastern Shore, Hartford, Austin Peay and Bradley.
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FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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Mercer (14-4) is coming off a 12-inning 4-3 victory at Georgia on Tuesday, which completed its two-game season sweep of the Bulldogs The Bears are 4-3 record on the road and are winners in six of their last seven games overall.
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East Carolina (13-4) is ranked among the top 25 of all six major polls (8/Baseball America, 10/Perfect Game, 17/USA Today, 18/Collegiate Baseball, 18/D1Baseball and 18/NCBWA) and has lost only once since a season-opening series sweep at the hands of Ole Miss.
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The teams will play a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday due to pending inclement weather conditions in the Greenville area Saturday. Sunday's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (14-4) at East Carolina (13-4)
Location: Greenville, N.C. | Clark-LeClair Stadium
Game 1: Friday, March 17 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Game 2: Friday, March 17 | 7:45 p.m. (Approximately) | Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Game 3: Sunday, March 19 | 1 p.m. |Live Stats | Watch (Pirates All-Access)
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Projected Starters:
Game 1: RHP Ryan Askew (3-0, 3.12) vs. LHP Jake Agnos (0-0, 0.60)
Game 2: LHP Austin Cox (1-1, 6.62) vs. RHP Trey Benton (2-0, 1.45)
Game 3: RHP Chase Burks (0-0, 3.00) vs. LHP Jacob Wolfe (2-0, 3.32)
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Scouting the Pirates
ECU enters the weekend series with a 13-4 record, having won nine of its last 10 games. The Pirates are 9-1 at Clark-LeClair Stadium this season. The three starting pitchers Mercer is set to face are a combined 4-0 in nine starts while Benton has a team-best 24 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Five Pirates are hitting .314 or better.
Â
A New Face
The front end of Friday's doubleheader will mark the first all-time meeting between the Bears and Pirates.
Â
It Might Be the Whole Team
Mercer is off to a hot start this year thanks, in part, to a powerful offense that quickly came out of hibernation. Entering this week's play, Mercer was ranked in the top 25 in several categories showcasing just how tough the Bears are this year.
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Category                                              Nat'l       SoCon       Stat
Sacrifice Bunts (288 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 30
Home Runs (293 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
Doubles (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 47
Base on Balls (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 107
Runs (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 162
Slugging Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.537
Scoring (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9.0
Home Runs Per Game (287 ranked)Â Â 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1.72
On Base Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.427
Stolen Bases (288 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 34
Hits (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 200
Double Plays (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18
Stolen Bases Per Game                       17                  2       1.89
WL Pct (286 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.778
Batting Average                                     23                  2    0.316
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Southern Power
Early on this season Mercer has found its hot bats as the Bears lead the Southern Conference in several offensive categories including home runs (31), home runs per game (1.72), on-base percentage (.427), scoring (9.0), slugging percentage (.537) and hits (200).
Â
And Fire Power
The early success is not limited to Mercer's hitters as the Bears' pitching staff has a SoCon-leading 168 strikeouts, wins (14), innings pitched (163.0), shutouts (2) and is second in earned run average (4.64).
Â
King of the Hill
Mercer enters this weekend's action with a 14-4 mark and remains at the top of the standings in the Southern Conference. That mark includes a perfect 4-0 record against intrastate opponents after the Bears completed the two-game season sweep of Georgia with a 12-inning 4-3 win Tuesday in Athens. Mercer is 9-1 at home as well, having earned series wins over Maryland Eastern Shore, Hartford, Austin Peay and Bradley.
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FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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