Tuesday, February 27
Kennesaw, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
at
Kennesaw State
Mercer Takes On Kennesaw State in Midweek Clashes
2/26/2018 5:08:00 PM | Baseball
Bears to play their first road game Tuesday; host Owls Wednesday
MACON, Ga. – Mercer will face in-state rival Kennesaw State twice this week as the Bears take their first road trip of the season to Kennesaw, Ga., Tuesday before returning to host the Owls on Wednesday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
First pitch for Tuesday's game is set for 6 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium. The game will be streamed live via ESPN3, marking the first time this season the Bears (6-2) play a broadcasted game. Wednesday's home game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch as well.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (6-2) vs. Kennesaw State (4-4)
Tuesday: Feb. 27 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | ESPN3 | Kennesaw, Ga. – Stillwell Stadium
Wednesday: Feb. 28 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets | Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Game Notes: Mercer | Kennesaw State
Projected Starters:
The in-state rivals and former ASUN Conference counterparts will play for the 43rd and 44th times this week. Mercer owns a 25-17 all-time record against the Owls and is 4-1 in the last five games played in the series.
Mercer lost its nonconference finale of the 2017 season to Kennesaw State, 6-1, at OrthoGeorgia Park on May 16, 2017. Alex Hanson went 2-for-2 with one double and one run scored, but the Bears left nine runners on base and mustered only on run as the Owls claimed a four-run lead through the fourth inning.
Scouting Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State (4-4) is coming off a closely-fought three-game sweep of Evansville at home last weekend. The three consecutive wins rebounded the Owls from a 1-4 start to the season with losses to Minnesota, Bradley and Georgia. Kennesaw State is hitting a collective .240 through eight games played.
The Owls were picked fourth in the ASUN Conference preseason coaches poll while a pair of seniors, Taylor Allum and Grant Williams, were named to the conference preseason team.
Vann Gets the Nod
Senior left-hander Christian Vann will make his first start on the mound as Bear on Tuesday. Vann has made three appearances out of the bullpen this season, striking out 12 batters over 6.2 innings while earning one win and one save.
The Lilburn, Ga., native ranked third in the Southern Conference and 55th nationally last season with 30 pitching appearances after transferring from Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Ala.).
K's For Days
Mercer's pitching staff set a program record with 23 strikeouts in its series-opening win over UNC Asheville last Friday. The Bears are off to a strong start in the strikeout department, ranking No. 1 nationally with an average of 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Austin Cox, who has struck out eight and 13 (career-high) in his first two starts of the year, leads the nation individually with an average of 21.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Thunder From Down Under
With 13 hits in 29 at bats, junior transfer and Australian product Brandon Michie leads Mercer with a .448 batting average. Michie has started all eight games at second base this season and is coming off a staggering offensive weekend that saw him hit .692 with a 1.077 slugging percentage. He went 6-for-6 in the series opener Friday, tying him for the most hits in a single game nationally this season.
Jump on the JT-Train
JT Thomas is batting .441 through eight games played this season and is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak dating back to last season. The 2018 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year has recorded multiple hits in six of eight games and hit his first home run of the campaign against UNC Asheville last Friday.
Big Time Bassett
Freshman Le Bassett has provided a big bat in big situations early this season. Four of the lefty's eight hits are home runs, including a pinch-hit three-run blast that rallied Mercer to a 5-4 victory over UNC Asheville in last weekend's series finale. Bassett is batting .320 with 10 runs batted in, providing serious pop for the heart of Mercer's lineup.
CVCC Connection
Mercer and Kennesaw State have six players combined that played at Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Ala). Mercer's Drew Lingo, Christian Vann, Chase Burks and JT Thomas will go up against fellow CVCC alums Jaylen Smith and AJ Willoughby of Kennesaw State.
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.
First pitch for Tuesday's game is set for 6 p.m. at Stillwell Stadium. The game will be streamed live via ESPN3, marking the first time this season the Bears (6-2) play a broadcasted game. Wednesday's home game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch as well.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (6-2) vs. Kennesaw State (4-4)
Tuesday: Feb. 27 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | ESPN3 | Kennesaw, Ga. – Stillwell Stadium
Wednesday: Feb. 28 | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Tickets | Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Twitter Updates: @MercerBaseball
Game Notes: Mercer | Kennesaw State
Projected Starters:
- Tuesday: LHP Christian Vann (1-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Kennedy (0-1, 16.20 ERA)
- Wednesday: RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-0, 4.66 ERA) vs. TBA
The in-state rivals and former ASUN Conference counterparts will play for the 43rd and 44th times this week. Mercer owns a 25-17 all-time record against the Owls and is 4-1 in the last five games played in the series.
- Series: Mercer, 25-17
- First Meeting: 1985, MER 19-8 in Macon, Ga.
- Last Meeting: 5/16/2017, KSU 6-1 in Macon, Ga.
- Streak: KSU, 1
Mercer lost its nonconference finale of the 2017 season to Kennesaw State, 6-1, at OrthoGeorgia Park on May 16, 2017. Alex Hanson went 2-for-2 with one double and one run scored, but the Bears left nine runners on base and mustered only on run as the Owls claimed a four-run lead through the fourth inning.
Scouting Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State (4-4) is coming off a closely-fought three-game sweep of Evansville at home last weekend. The three consecutive wins rebounded the Owls from a 1-4 start to the season with losses to Minnesota, Bradley and Georgia. Kennesaw State is hitting a collective .240 through eight games played.
The Owls were picked fourth in the ASUN Conference preseason coaches poll while a pair of seniors, Taylor Allum and Grant Williams, were named to the conference preseason team.
Vann Gets the Nod
Senior left-hander Christian Vann will make his first start on the mound as Bear on Tuesday. Vann has made three appearances out of the bullpen this season, striking out 12 batters over 6.2 innings while earning one win and one save.
The Lilburn, Ga., native ranked third in the Southern Conference and 55th nationally last season with 30 pitching appearances after transferring from Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Ala.).
K's For Days
Mercer's pitching staff set a program record with 23 strikeouts in its series-opening win over UNC Asheville last Friday. The Bears are off to a strong start in the strikeout department, ranking No. 1 nationally with an average of 13.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Austin Cox, who has struck out eight and 13 (career-high) in his first two starts of the year, leads the nation individually with an average of 21.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Thunder From Down Under
With 13 hits in 29 at bats, junior transfer and Australian product Brandon Michie leads Mercer with a .448 batting average. Michie has started all eight games at second base this season and is coming off a staggering offensive weekend that saw him hit .692 with a 1.077 slugging percentage. He went 6-for-6 in the series opener Friday, tying him for the most hits in a single game nationally this season.
Jump on the JT-Train
JT Thomas is batting .441 through eight games played this season and is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak dating back to last season. The 2018 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year has recorded multiple hits in six of eight games and hit his first home run of the campaign against UNC Asheville last Friday.
Big Time Bassett
Freshman Le Bassett has provided a big bat in big situations early this season. Four of the lefty's eight hits are home runs, including a pinch-hit three-run blast that rallied Mercer to a 5-4 victory over UNC Asheville in last weekend's series finale. Bassett is batting .320 with 10 runs batted in, providing serious pop for the heart of Mercer's lineup.
CVCC Connection
Mercer and Kennesaw State have six players combined that played at Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Ala). Mercer's Drew Lingo, Christian Vann, Chase Burks and JT Thomas will go up against fellow CVCC alums Jaylen Smith and AJ Willoughby of Kennesaw State.
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.
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