Friday, February 23
Macon, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
vs
UNC Asheville
Photo by: Woody Marshall
Bears Welcome UNC Asheville for Weekend Series
2/22/2018 4:49:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer and Asheville to meet for the first time
MACON, Ga. – Mercer takes a 3-2 record into a weekend home series against UNC Asheville, which it will face for the first time in program history on Friday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
The three-game series will start at 6 p.m. Friday as the Bears eye their second weekend series victory of the early season. Tickets for all three games can be purchased at OrthoGeorgia Park or online at www.tickets.mercer.edu.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (3-2) vs. UNC Asheville (2-2)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 23 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Saturday: Feb. 24 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Sunday: Feb. 25 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Projected Starters:
This weekend will be a first for both programs, as the Bears and Bulldogs have never clashed on the baseball diamond.
Scouting UNC Asheville
The Bulldogs (2-2) are coming off a mid-week nonconference win against Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. on Wednesday following a series loss at Lipscomb last weekend. Asheville's lineup tallied 14 hits to complement its bullpen, which allowed only one hit over seven innings of work.
Redshirt sophomore left-hander Jordan Carr, who is projected to start Sunday for the Bulldogs, was named the Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week for his 5.1-inning performance against Lipscomb last weekend.
Asheville was picked ninth out of 10 teams in the Big South preseason coaches poll and went 25-32 overall last season. The Bulldogs' top two bats in 2017, Danny Wilson and Brandon Lankford, return this season.
Stewart Faces Alma Mater
Mercer assistant coach Willie Stewart will face his alma mater for the first time since joining the Bears' coaching staff prior to the 2016 campaign. Stewart is a four-year letterwinner (1996-2000) at UNC Asheville, where he also spent eight seasons (2001, 2003-09) on the coaching staff, including the final five as the program's head coach. He led the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 2006 and rounded out his playing career with All-Big South First Team honors as a second baseman in 2000.
Stewart faced UNC Asheville in his first two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State before assuming his current role at Mercer.
Big Time Bassett
Mercer has found an asset in freshman Le Bassett, who has found his power stroke early this season. The freshman outfielder has made four starts at designated hitter and has tallied three home runs, including a pair in Tuesday's nonconference win over Florida A&M. He is batting .357 with six runs, five hits and five RBIs so far.
All Eyes on Thomas
Senior catcher JT Thomas has recorded nine hits through the first five games of action after earning a pair of preseason All-America First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA. The senior is 9-for-22 (.409) for the season along with one double and five RBIs.
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 www.MercerBears.com.
The three-game series will start at 6 p.m. Friday as the Bears eye their second weekend series victory of the early season. Tickets for all three games can be purchased at OrthoGeorgia Park or online at www.tickets.mercer.edu.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (3-2) vs. UNC Asheville (2-2)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 23 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Saturday: Feb. 24 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Sunday: Feb. 25 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Projected Starters:
- Friday: Jr. LHP Austin Cox (1-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. Sr. LHP Jordan Fulbright (0-1, 5.79 ERA)
- Saturday: Sr. RHP Chase Burks (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. So. LHP Greg Gasparro (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
- Sunday: Jr. RHP Kevin Coulter (0-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. R-So. LHP Jordan Carr (1-0, 1.69 ERA)
This weekend will be a first for both programs, as the Bears and Bulldogs have never clashed on the baseball diamond.
Scouting UNC Asheville
The Bulldogs (2-2) are coming off a mid-week nonconference win against Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. on Wednesday following a series loss at Lipscomb last weekend. Asheville's lineup tallied 14 hits to complement its bullpen, which allowed only one hit over seven innings of work.
Redshirt sophomore left-hander Jordan Carr, who is projected to start Sunday for the Bulldogs, was named the Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week for his 5.1-inning performance against Lipscomb last weekend.
Asheville was picked ninth out of 10 teams in the Big South preseason coaches poll and went 25-32 overall last season. The Bulldogs' top two bats in 2017, Danny Wilson and Brandon Lankford, return this season.
Stewart Faces Alma Mater
Mercer assistant coach Willie Stewart will face his alma mater for the first time since joining the Bears' coaching staff prior to the 2016 campaign. Stewart is a four-year letterwinner (1996-2000) at UNC Asheville, where he also spent eight seasons (2001, 2003-09) on the coaching staff, including the final five as the program's head coach. He led the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 2006 and rounded out his playing career with All-Big South First Team honors as a second baseman in 2000.
Stewart faced UNC Asheville in his first two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State before assuming his current role at Mercer.
Big Time Bassett
Mercer has found an asset in freshman Le Bassett, who has found his power stroke early this season. The freshman outfielder has made four starts at designated hitter and has tallied three home runs, including a pair in Tuesday's nonconference win over Florida A&M. He is batting .357 with six runs, five hits and five RBIs so far.
All Eyes on Thomas
Senior catcher JT Thomas has recorded nine hits through the first five games of action after earning a pair of preseason All-America First Team honors from Collegiate Baseball and NCBWA. The senior is 9-for-22 (.409) for the season along with one double and five RBIs.
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 www.MercerBears.com.
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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