Friday, March 31
Greenville, S.C.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
at
Furman
Photo by: Bill Hirsh
Bears to Face Furman this Weekend in SoCon Play
3/30/2017 2:54:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer seeks to remain atop the league standings
MACON, Ga. – Mercer will look to improve upon its 7-3 road record this weekend as it takes on Furman in a three-game Southern Conference series at Latham Stadium in Greenville, South Carolina, starting with a first pitch of 6 p.m. Friday, March 31.
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Mercer (21-6, 2-1 SoCon) owns the best record among all league teams despite dropping its last two games to ETSU and Georgia Tech. The host Paladins (11-12, 1-2) are 3-7 in their last 10 games played and will play their first home games since March 19.
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All three games will have live video via YouTube (links provided below).
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SERIES LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (21-6, 2-1 SoCon) at Furman (11-12, 1-2 SoCon)
Location: Greenville, S.C. | Latham Stadium
Game 1: Friday, March 31 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch | Listen
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Quick Hits
The Paladins fell twice at Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. last weekend as the Terriers won the first two games 9-8 (10 innings) and 21-2. An 8-0 loss at No. 5 Clemson on Tuesday dropped Furman to 3-7 in its last 10 games.
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Reigning SoCon Pitcher of the Year Will Gaddis highlights a Furman pitching staff that has issued a league-low 60 bases on balls, which translates to a 2.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio, second only to Mercer (3.02). Gaddis (2-2, 2.43) will get the start Friday. First baseman Brandon Elmy owns a team-best .385 batting average and four home runs to pace a lineup that is hitting a collective .286.
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Series History
A 6-2 mark against the Paladins since joining the SoCon has extended Mercer's lead in the all-time series to 18-6. The Bears took two of three to win last year's series at Claude Smith Field before defeating Furman, 6-1, in the SoCon Tournament semifinals. Mercer claimed the series win in Greenville two years ago as well by earning wins in games one and two.
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Last Time Out vs. Furman
Mercer advanced to the SoCon Tournament semifinals for a second straight year by defeating Furman, 6-1, at Fluor Field in Greenville. Kevin Coulter tossed a complete-game gem, needing only 96 pitches to go the distance while scattering seven hits and walking only one batter.
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Former Bear Kyle Lewis hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the first inning while Trey Truitt and Ryan Hagan added RBIs in the fourth and fifth innings with a run-scoring double and suicide squeeze bunt, respectively.
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Small Ball, Long Ball
The Mercer offense is proving it can do a bit of everything, as it ranks third nationally with 43 home runs and first nationally with 41 sacrifice bunts. Those figures are reflected on an individual level as Charlie Madden is in second place nationally with 11 home runs while Jackson Ware and Alex Hanson are first (12) and fourth (7) nationally in sacrifice bunts as well.
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Weapons of Choice: A Spear and a Broom
Mercer has benefited from the outstanding relief pitching of Nick Spear and Robert Broom this season. The duo is a combined 8-1 over 49.1 innings pitched while notching 68 strikeouts collectively. Opposing batters are hitting .165 off Broom and .187 off Spear.
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King of the Hill
Mercer's 21-6 record ranks as one of the best starts in program history. The team's .778 winning percentage ranks 15th nationally as well. The Bears are 8-2 in their last 10 games played and are 55th in the latest RPI rankings, which is best among all teams in the SoCon and the state of Georgia.
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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 (21-6, 2-1 SoCon) owns the best record among all league teams despite dropping its last two games to ETSU and Georgia Tech. The host Paladins (11-12, 1-2) are 3-7 in their last 10 games played and will play their first home games since March 19.
Â
All three games will have live video via YouTube (links provided below).
Â
SERIES LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (21-6, 2-1 SoCon) at Furman (11-12, 1-2 SoCon)
Location: Greenville, S.C. | Latham Stadium
Game 1: Friday, March 31 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch | Listen
- RHP Ryan Askew (3-0, 3.96) vs. RHP Will Gaddis (2-2, 2.43)
- LHP Austin Cox (2-1, 6.04) vs. LHP Grant Scheurmann (3-3, 7.18)
- RHP Chase Burks (1-1, 4.03) vs. RHP Matthew Quarles (3-1, 4.54)
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
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Quick Hits
- Mercer has claimed 13 straight weekend series dating back to a sweep of ETSU April 8-10, 2016.
- Mercer is receiving votes in two national polls (ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and NCBWA Top 25 poll) and is 55th in the latest RPI rankings.
- Mercer ranks among the top 10 nationally in 12 different offensive categories.
- Senior catcher Charlie Madden is tied for second nationally with 11 home runs while leading the SoCon in RBIs (33) and runs scored (31).
The Paladins fell twice at Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. last weekend as the Terriers won the first two games 9-8 (10 innings) and 21-2. An 8-0 loss at No. 5 Clemson on Tuesday dropped Furman to 3-7 in its last 10 games.
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Reigning SoCon Pitcher of the Year Will Gaddis highlights a Furman pitching staff that has issued a league-low 60 bases on balls, which translates to a 2.83 strikeout-to-walk ratio, second only to Mercer (3.02). Gaddis (2-2, 2.43) will get the start Friday. First baseman Brandon Elmy owns a team-best .385 batting average and four home runs to pace a lineup that is hitting a collective .286.
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Series History
A 6-2 mark against the Paladins since joining the SoCon has extended Mercer's lead in the all-time series to 18-6. The Bears took two of three to win last year's series at Claude Smith Field before defeating Furman, 6-1, in the SoCon Tournament semifinals. Mercer claimed the series win in Greenville two years ago as well by earning wins in games one and two.
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Last Time Out vs. Furman
Mercer advanced to the SoCon Tournament semifinals for a second straight year by defeating Furman, 6-1, at Fluor Field in Greenville. Kevin Coulter tossed a complete-game gem, needing only 96 pitches to go the distance while scattering seven hits and walking only one batter.
Â
Former Bear Kyle Lewis hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the first inning while Trey Truitt and Ryan Hagan added RBIs in the fourth and fifth innings with a run-scoring double and suicide squeeze bunt, respectively.
Â
Small Ball, Long Ball
The Mercer offense is proving it can do a bit of everything, as it ranks third nationally with 43 home runs and first nationally with 41 sacrifice bunts. Those figures are reflected on an individual level as Charlie Madden is in second place nationally with 11 home runs while Jackson Ware and Alex Hanson are first (12) and fourth (7) nationally in sacrifice bunts as well.
Â
Weapons of Choice: A Spear and a Broom
Mercer has benefited from the outstanding relief pitching of Nick Spear and Robert Broom this season. The duo is a combined 8-1 over 49.1 innings pitched while notching 68 strikeouts collectively. Opposing batters are hitting .165 off Broom and .187 off Spear.
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King of the Hill
Mercer's 21-6 record ranks as one of the best starts in program history. The team's .778 winning percentage ranks 15th nationally as well. The Bears are 8-2 in their last 10 games played and are 55th in the latest RPI rankings, which is best among all teams in the SoCon and the state of Georgia.
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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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