Friday, March 31
Greenville, S.C.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
22-6, 0
5
at
4
Furman
11-13, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
7
2
Furman
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
0
4
12
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Graveno, Zach (3-0)
L: Jake Crawford (0-2)
S: Broom, Robert (1)
Batting:
2B: Thomas, JT 1
HR: Bening, Hunter 1 ; Hagan, Ryan 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1
RBI: Bening, Hunter 3 ; Hagan, Ryan 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, JT 1 ; Edgeworth, Danny 1 ; Bening, Hunter 1 ; Hagan, Ryan 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1
SB: Hanson, Alex 1
Batting:
HR: Sky Overton 1
RBI: Carter Grote 2 ; Jason Costa 1 ; Sky Overton 1
SH: Sims Griffith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Landon Kay 1 ; Carter Grote 1 ; Sky Overton 1 ; Bret Huebner 1
SB: Landon Kay 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
3b/2b
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Mercer Rallies Past Furman with Five-Run Ninth
3/31/2017 9:31:00 PM | Baseball
The Bears connect for three home runs to capture improbable road win
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mercer used three ninth-inning home runs to rally from a four-run deficit and defeat Furman, 5-4, in Southern Conference play Friday night at Latham Stadium.
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On a night that Furman (11-13, 1-3 SoCon) starting pitcher Will Gaddis was electric, all it took was for the Bears (22-6, 3-1) to get a shot at a different pitcher. Gaddis tossed eight innings of two-hit shutout ball while striking out 10 before he was relieved in the ninth, giving way to an opportunity for Mercer.
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Hunter Bening, Ryan Hagan and Alex Hanson connected for three home runs in four at bats to rally the Orange and Black from the clenches of defeat in the ninth. Bening's three-run long ball followed hits by JT Thomas and Danny Edgeworth and gave way to Hagan and Hanson's game-tying and go-ahead solo shots.
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Right-hander Ryan Askew submitted seven strong innings of work on the mound, allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out three. Freshman Zach Graveno (3-0) earned the win with one inning of work before Robert Broom tossed a hitless ninth frame for his first save of the year.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Three Bears – Bening, Hagan and Hanson – get a share of the honor for their late-game offensive heroics. Bening now ranks second on the team with eight total while Hagan's blast was his first of the season.
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STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer scored five runs on five hits in the ninth after entering the frame with only two hits – both singles – as a unit. Furman's Gaddis took a no-hitter in to the sixth, but Mercer would get the last laugh with its late rally.
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COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"Tonight is an example of why you play until the last out is made. [Will Gaddis] was as good as advertised on the mound but Ryan Askew was really good as well for us and helped our bats keep it close until they broke out late with the home runs.
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"Our guys grinded some at bats out and once they went to the bullpen we put some balls in the air. This is a great win for us – to come from behind in our final two at bats and win…that's something special."
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PITCHER'S OF RECORD
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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On a night that Furman (11-13, 1-3 SoCon) starting pitcher Will Gaddis was electric, all it took was for the Bears (22-6, 3-1) to get a shot at a different pitcher. Gaddis tossed eight innings of two-hit shutout ball while striking out 10 before he was relieved in the ninth, giving way to an opportunity for Mercer.
Â
Hunter Bening, Ryan Hagan and Alex Hanson connected for three home runs in four at bats to rally the Orange and Black from the clenches of defeat in the ninth. Bening's three-run long ball followed hits by JT Thomas and Danny Edgeworth and gave way to Hagan and Hanson's game-tying and go-ahead solo shots.
Â
Right-hander Ryan Askew submitted seven strong innings of work on the mound, allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out three. Freshman Zach Graveno (3-0) earned the win with one inning of work before Robert Broom tossed a hitless ninth frame for his first save of the year.
Â
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Three Bears – Bening, Hagan and Hanson – get a share of the honor for their late-game offensive heroics. Bening now ranks second on the team with eight total while Hagan's blast was his first of the season.
Â
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer scored five runs on five hits in the ninth after entering the frame with only two hits – both singles – as a unit. Furman's Gaddis took a no-hitter in to the sixth, but Mercer would get the last laugh with its late rally.
Â
COACH GIBSON'S TAKE
"Tonight is an example of why you play until the last out is made. [Will Gaddis] was as good as advertised on the mound but Ryan Askew was really good as well for us and helped our bats keep it close until they broke out late with the home runs.
Â
"Our guys grinded some at bats out and once they went to the bullpen we put some balls in the air. This is a great win for us – to come from behind in our final two at bats and win…that's something special."
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PITCHER'S OF RECORD
- Win: Zach Graveno, Mercer (3-0)
- Loss: Jake Crawford, Furman (0-2)
- Save: Robert Broom, Mercer (1)
- Mercer: 22-6 (3-1 SoCon)
- Furman: 11-13 (1-3 SoCon)
- Mercer: At Furman (4 p.m., Saturday, April 1 in Greenville, S.C.)
- Furman: Hosts Mercer (4 p.m., Saturday, April 1 in Greenville, S.C.)
- Mercer is 6-2 against Furman since joining the SoCon.
- The Bears are 8-3 on the road.
- Friday marked the 14th time this season Mercer has hit at least two home runs in a single game.
- Mercer was out-hit 12-7 but saw four of those hits go for extra bases.
- Ryan Askew notched his fourth start of the year in which he did not issue a walk. He has four walks in 45.2 innings pitched.
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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