Tuesday, March 21
Macon, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
vs
Florida A&M
Mercer Kicks Off Home Stand with Florida A&M
3/20/2017 5:24:00 PM | Baseball
Bears seeking revenge for pair of losses earlier this season
MACON, Ga. – Hot-handed Mercer opens a six-game home stand at OrthoGeorgia Park this week as it hosts Florida A&M in a pair of games Tuesday and Wednesday, which will complete their four-game season series.
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Winners in nine of their last 10 games, the Bears (17-4) are coming off a non-conference series sweep of nationally ranked East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina this past weekend. Mercer will have its hands full with the Rattlers (14-5, 5-1 MEAC), who earned a pair of wins against the Orange and Black earlier this season in Tallahassee.
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Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Mercer Sports Network via the flagship station 97.3 FM The Bull Icons and on the iHeartRadio app. Wednesday's first pitch is set for 4 p.m.
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GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (17-4) vs. Florida A&M (14-5)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Tuesday: March 21 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen (Mercer Sports Network)
Wednesday: March 22 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Projected Starters:
Tuesday: RHP Kevin Coulter (1-1, 8.84) vs. RHP Danny Rodriguez (1-1, 4.94)
Wednesday: TBA vs. TBA
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Scouting the Rattlers
Florida A&M is 7-3 in its last 10 games played and are fresh off a series sweep of conference foe Savannah State last weekend. The team is batting a collective .305, led by the trio of Kaycee Reese (.388), Ben Ellzey (.365) and Brian Davis (.339). The Rattlers have already won two series against Southern Conference schools, taking two of three from both Wofford and ETSU in Tallahassee. Including their two wins over Mercer earlier this season, the Rattlers are 6-2 against SoCon programs in 2017.
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Last Time Out vs. Florida A&M
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 displaying just how tough the Bears are this year.
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Category                                              Nat'l       SoCon       Stat
Sacrifice Bunts (284 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 37
Home Runs (291 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 35
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 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 187
Slugging Percentage (295 ranked)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 0.535
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 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 Â 8.9
Home Runs Per Game (294 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 1.67
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 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 Â 53
Base on Balls (295 ranked)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 120
On Base Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.427
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 Â Â 8Â 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 234
Double Plays (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8Â 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 23
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 Â Â 8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.810
Stolen Bases (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15Â 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 35
Batting Average                                     19                  3    0.318
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio                      24                  1       3.08
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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 (35), home runs per game (1.67), on-base percentage (.427), scoring (8.9), slugging percentage (.535) and hits (234).
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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 191 strikeouts, wins (17), innings pitched (190.0), shutouts (2) and is second in earned run average (4.59).
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King of the Hill
Mercer enters this week's action with a 17-4 mark and remains at the top of the standings in the Southern Conference. Although two of its four losses have come against Florida A&M, Mercer has won four straight and nine of the last 10. The Bears are 46th in this week's RPI rankings – 46 spots higher than last week – after sweeping nationally ranked East Carolina on the road.
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Thomas Named SoCon Player of the Week
Mercer catcher JT Thomas was named the SoCon Baseball Player of the Week (March 13-19). A junior from Woodstock, Georgia, Thomas batted .562 (9-for-16) with three home runs, eight runs batted in and seven runs scored to help Mercer defeat SEC foe Georgia and sweep nationally ranked East Carolina in a 4-0 week on the road. He was particularly explosive against the Pirates, notching a pair of four-hit games en route to batting 8-for-11 during the series.
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A 4-for-4 performance in the series opener was highlighted by a pair of game-tying hits (two-run home run, two-run double) and then an eventual go-ahead two-run home run to help the Bears defeat ECU, 10-7. He added his third home run of the week in Sunday's series finale to cap a 4-for-5 game at the plate.
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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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Winners in nine of their last 10 games, the Bears (17-4) are coming off a non-conference series sweep of nationally ranked East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina this past weekend. Mercer will have its hands full with the Rattlers (14-5, 5-1 MEAC), who earned a pair of wins against the Orange and Black earlier this season in Tallahassee.
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Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Mercer Sports Network via the flagship station 97.3 FM The Bull Icons and on the iHeartRadio app. Wednesday's first pitch is set for 4 p.m.
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GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (17-4) vs. Florida A&M (14-5)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Tuesday: March 21 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Listen (Mercer Sports Network)
Wednesday: March 22 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Projected Starters:
Tuesday: RHP Kevin Coulter (1-1, 8.84) vs. RHP Danny Rodriguez (1-1, 4.94)
Wednesday: TBA vs. TBA
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Scouting the Rattlers
Florida A&M is 7-3 in its last 10 games played and are fresh off a series sweep of conference foe Savannah State last weekend. The team is batting a collective .305, led by the trio of Kaycee Reese (.388), Ben Ellzey (.365) and Brian Davis (.339). The Rattlers have already won two series against Southern Conference schools, taking two of three from both Wofford and ETSU in Tallahassee. Including their two wins over Mercer earlier this season, the Rattlers are 6-2 against SoCon programs in 2017.
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Last Time Out vs. Florida A&M
- Game 1: Mercer scored three runs in the top of the ninth but could not overcome a six-run deficit in a 10-7 loss at Florida A&M at Moore-Kittles Field. The Bears held a 4-0 lead before Florida A&M responded with a six-run sixth inning. The host Rattlers added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth, pushing their lead to 10-4. Mercer would respond with three more runs in the ninth but be unable to complete the rally in the Bears' first loss of the season.
- Game 2: Danny Edgeworth was 4-for-5 with two RBIs but a four-run seventh inning for Florida A&M was too much for Mercer to overcome in a 9-6 loss.
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 displaying just how tough the Bears are this year.
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Category                                              Nat'l       SoCon       Stat
Sacrifice Bunts (284 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 37
Home Runs (291 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 35
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 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 187
Slugging Percentage (295 ranked)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 0.535
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 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 Â 8.9
Home Runs Per Game (294 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 1.67
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 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 Â 53
Base on Balls (295 ranked)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 120
On Base Percentage (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â 8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.427
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 Â Â 8Â 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 234
Double Plays (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 8Â 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 23
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 Â Â 8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1Â Â Â Â 0.810
Stolen Bases (295 ranked)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15Â 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 35
Batting Average                                     19                  3    0.318
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio                      24                  1       3.08
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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 (35), home runs per game (1.67), on-base percentage (.427), scoring (8.9), slugging percentage (.535) and hits (234).
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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 191 strikeouts, wins (17), innings pitched (190.0), shutouts (2) and is second in earned run average (4.59).
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King of the Hill
Mercer enters this week's action with a 17-4 mark and remains at the top of the standings in the Southern Conference. Although two of its four losses have come against Florida A&M, Mercer has won four straight and nine of the last 10. The Bears are 46th in this week's RPI rankings – 46 spots higher than last week – after sweeping nationally ranked East Carolina on the road.
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Thomas Named SoCon Player of the Week
Mercer catcher JT Thomas was named the SoCon Baseball Player of the Week (March 13-19). A junior from Woodstock, Georgia, Thomas batted .562 (9-for-16) with three home runs, eight runs batted in and seven runs scored to help Mercer defeat SEC foe Georgia and sweep nationally ranked East Carolina in a 4-0 week on the road. He was particularly explosive against the Pirates, notching a pair of four-hit games en route to batting 8-for-11 during the series.
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A 4-for-4 performance in the series opener was highlighted by a pair of game-tying hits (two-run home run, two-run double) and then an eventual go-ahead two-run home run to help the Bears defeat ECU, 10-7. He added his third home run of the week in Sunday's series finale to cap a 4-for-5 game at the plate.
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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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