Mercer Faces Wofford in Final Road Series

Friday, May 12

Spartanburg, S.C.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

Wofford

5/11/2017 1:45:00 PM | Baseball

Live Stats G1 Video G2 Video G3 Video

Bears can clinch their third SoCon regular season title with a series win

By: Gerrit Van Genderen

MACON, Ga. – Mercer returns to Southern Conference action this weekend with a chance to clinch its third consecutive regular season title as it faces Wofford in a three-game series at Russell C. King Field in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The Bears (36-11, 15-3 SoCon) remain in sole possession of first place after a 12-day layoff dating back to April 30. A sweep of Wofford (25-25, 10-8) or two wins complimented by a UNCG loss will clinch the SoCon regular season title outright for Mercer. A series win, regardless of any other outcomes across the league, will give Mercer at least a share of the title.

Mercer and Wofford will open the series at 6 p.m. Friday before playing a doubleheader Sunday starting at 2 p.m. Eleven Mercer seniors are set to graduate Saturday in Macon, resulting in the off day in between.

SERIES LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (36-11, 15-3 SoCon) at Wofford (25-25, 10-8 SoCon)
Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina | Russell C. King Field
Friday: May 12 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Sunday (Game 2): May 14 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Sunday (Game 3): May 14 | 5 p.m. | Live Stats | Watch
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Projected Starters

Friday: RHP Ryan Askew (4-0, 4.30) vs. LHP Adam Scott (5-4, 4.42)
Sunday (Game 2): LHP Austin Cox (3-1, 5.24) vs. RHP Spencer Kulman (8-4, 5.35)
Sunday (Game 3): RHP Kevin Coulter (4-2, 4.60) vs. LHP Austin Higginbotham (5-4, 4.79)

Quick Hits

If Mercer were to clinch the SoCon regular season title, it would be the first team to three-peat since Western Carolina claimed three consecutive SoCon South Division titles and the overall regular season title from 1986-89.
Mercer is No. 50 in the latest RPI rankings while receiving votes in the NCBWA Top-30 poll after 12 days off from competition.
Mercer has won at least 35 games in each of the past eight seasons.
Mercer is coming off a 1-4 week (April 24-30).
Reliever Robert Broom was named SoCon Pitcher of the Month (April).
The Bears' three-game series at Wofford marks the final road games of their regular season.
Mercer has won the SoCon regular season title with 16 wins each of the last two years.

Scouting Wofford
The Terriers are coming off a pair of mid-week nonconference losses to Winthrop and USC Upstate, both one-run affairs. The 6-5 loss to USC Upstate ended with a walk-off grand slam by the Spartans. Wofford is 3-7 in its last 10 games played, including a series loss at Western Carolina last weekend.

One of the nation's most aggressive teams on the base paths, Wofford has stolen 108 bases (third nationally), translating to being a top-20 scoring offense (7.4 runs per game). McClain Bradley (.373, .627 slugging percentage) and Brett Hash (.325, 46 RBIs) lead the way for the Terriers' lineup, which is batting a collective .292. Left-hander Adam Scott has 92 punch-outs in 75.1 innings while Saturday starter Spencer Kulman has eight wins in 12 starts.

Series History
Mercer owns a 15-9 advantage over Wofford in an all-time series that dates back to 1905. Mercer is 4-2 against the Terriers since joining the SoCon, winning two of three last year at Claude Smith Field in Macon.

Last Meeting
A five-run rally in the sixth inning was not enough to overcome Wofford's six-run lead, resulting in a 7-5 loss for the Bears in the series finale at Claude Smith Field on March 26, 2016. Wofford avoided a conference-opening sweep with the two-run victory.

Hunter Bening went 2-for-4 with a grand slam that pulled the Bears within one run. Kevin Coulter received his first collegiate loss, allowing six runs over five frames.

Road Warriors
Mercer enters its final road series of the season with an 18-5 record away from OrthoGeorgia Park. The 18 wins are already their most since 2011 (18) and since joining the SoCon. Four Bears are batting at least .337 on the road this year, highlighted by Danny Edgeworth (.384) and JT Thomas (.379, eight home runs, 31 RBIs).

Bash Bros
Thomas and Charlie Madden are one of six teammate duos in the nation to have 50+ RBIs heading into the weekend. Thomas ranks 26th nationally with 54 runs batted in while Madden is close behind (39th nationally) with 51. The catcher/designated hitter tandem is 1-2 among SoCon players in the category and has been a driving force in Mercer's high-powered offense.

Hagan in Charge
A slow start to the season did not prevent Ryan Hagan from working his way into an impressive senior campaign at the plate and defensively. Hagan is batting .392 in SoCon play, sixth best among league players. His .489 on base percentage, eight stolen bases, 12 walks and .649 slugging percentage are top marks among SoCon shortstops in conference action.

Small Ball, Long Ball
The Mercer offense is proving it can do a bit of everything, as it ranks second nationally with 67 sacrifice bunts and fifth nationally with 70 home runs. Madden (16), Thomas (12) and Hunter Bening (12) rank seventh and 60th in home runs nationally. Jackson Ware is the nation's sac bunt leader with 20 individually.

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.