Sunday, March 11
Manhattan, Kan.
1 p.m.
Mercer University
12-5
6
at
13
Kansas State
10-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mercer
1
1
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
6
11
1
Kansas State
3
0
0
3
0
1
2
4
X
13
19
3
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marolf, Jared (1-1)
L: Burks, Chase (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Yeager, RJ 1
RBI: Truitt, Trey 1 ; Posas, David 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1 ; Yeager, RJ 2
SH: Truitt, Trey 1 ; Hanson, Alex 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Truitt, Trey 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Wright, Cory 1 ; Yeager, RJ 3
SB: Posas, David 1
HBP: Ware, Jackson 1 ; Wright, Cory 1
Batting:
2B: Brennan, Will 1 ; Ausmus, Rainer 2 ; Watts, Dylan 1
RBI: Brennan, Will 2 ; Owen, Brett 3 ; Mount, Drew 3 ; Ausmus, Rainer 2 ; McMaster, Trent 1 ; Watts, Dylan 1
SH: McWhertor, TK 1 ; Harker, Hanz 1
SF: Owen, Brett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brennan, Will 3 ; Mount, Drew 1 ; Thompson, Cameron 1 ; Ausmus, Rainer 1 ; Barfield, Kyle 1 ; Littlejim, Caleb 1 ; Harker, Hanz 2 ; Watts, Dylan 2 ; Passino, Jaxon 1
SB: Brennan, Will 1 ; Mount, Drew 2 ; Barfield, Kyle 1 ; Maxson, Jordan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
Photo by: Cooper Kinley
Bears Falter in Series Finale at Kansas State
3/11/2018 5:38:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer knocks 11 hits in Sunday’s rubber match
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Mercer was unable to hold a two-run lead early in Sunday's rubber match as Kansas State scored 10 of the final 11 runs to defeat the Bears, 13-6, and claim the series win at Tionton Family Stadium.
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The Bears (12-5) held a 5-3 advantage heading into the home half of the fourth inning but saw Kansas State (10-5) plate three runs to claim a lead it never surrendered. The loss marked only Mercer's fifth series loss in 31 series dating back to the start of the 2016 season.
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A RBI infield single by David Posas cut Kansas State's lead to 7-6 in the seventh, but the Wildcats would respond with six runs off Mercer relievers Nick Spear and Kevin Coulter in the following two frames. Chase Burks (2-1) took the loss, going four innings while allowing six runs on nine hits. He struck out six batters and allowed only one walk.
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Mercer claimed its two-run lead early on with four runs over the second and third innings. RJ Yeager scored on a Kansas State fielding error in the second and then gave Mercer the lead with a two-run double in the third, scoring Cory Wright and Jackson Ware. A safety squeeze by Truitt added one run, giving Mercer a 5-3 lead.
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Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"I thought Chase Burks had a solid start on the mound for us today but we gave [Kansas State] five outs in the first inning after not getting a routine groundball and misplaying a shallow fly ball to left field," said head coach Craig Gibson. "I was proud of the way we fought back…the ball game just got out of hand late.
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"Today should've been a 7-6 game. Overall, this was a good trip for us where we learned a lot about ourselves. We have to get back to Macon and recharge so we can be ready to go against a good club in Georgia Southern on Wednesday."
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Player of the Game
Freshman RJ Yeager rounded out a strong series with a 2-for-4 performance. He was responsible for five of Mercer's six runs, scoring three times while driving home a pair. The Lynn Haven, Fla., native went 6-for-11 with seven runs scored and four RBI for the series.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jared Marolf (1-1)
» Loss: Chase Burks (2-1)
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Record Update
» Mercer: 12-5
» Kansas State: 10-5
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Georgia Southern (6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Kansas State: Hosts Creighton (7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 13 in Manhattan, Kan.)
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Notables
» Mercer fell to 5-5 all-time against the current nine Big 12 Conference teams.
» David Posas thrived in the two-hole this weekend, collecting six hits and five RBI.
» Truitt's fifth multi-hit performance in the last six games extended his hit streak to nine games.
» Burks tied a season-high with six strikeouts. He also surrendered a season-high nine hits.
» All but one of Mercer's starting nine hitters collected at least one hit.
» Coulter's relief appearance was the fifth of his career.
» Mercer struck out nine batters, marking only the third time this season the Bears haven't reached double-digits in the category.
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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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The Bears (12-5) held a 5-3 advantage heading into the home half of the fourth inning but saw Kansas State (10-5) plate three runs to claim a lead it never surrendered. The loss marked only Mercer's fifth series loss in 31 series dating back to the start of the 2016 season.
Â
A RBI infield single by David Posas cut Kansas State's lead to 7-6 in the seventh, but the Wildcats would respond with six runs off Mercer relievers Nick Spear and Kevin Coulter in the following two frames. Chase Burks (2-1) took the loss, going four innings while allowing six runs on nine hits. He struck out six batters and allowed only one walk.
Â
Mercer claimed its two-run lead early on with four runs over the second and third innings. RJ Yeager scored on a Kansas State fielding error in the second and then gave Mercer the lead with a two-run double in the third, scoring Cory Wright and Jackson Ware. A safety squeeze by Truitt added one run, giving Mercer a 5-3 lead.
Â
Coach Gibson's Take
Opening statement:
"I thought Chase Burks had a solid start on the mound for us today but we gave [Kansas State] five outs in the first inning after not getting a routine groundball and misplaying a shallow fly ball to left field," said head coach Craig Gibson. "I was proud of the way we fought back…the ball game just got out of hand late.
Â
"Today should've been a 7-6 game. Overall, this was a good trip for us where we learned a lot about ourselves. We have to get back to Macon and recharge so we can be ready to go against a good club in Georgia Southern on Wednesday."
Â
Player of the Game
Freshman RJ Yeager rounded out a strong series with a 2-for-4 performance. He was responsible for five of Mercer's six runs, scoring three times while driving home a pair. The Lynn Haven, Fla., native went 6-for-11 with seven runs scored and four RBI for the series.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jared Marolf (1-1)
» Loss: Chase Burks (2-1)
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Record Update
» Mercer: 12-5
» Kansas State: 10-5
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Georgia Southern (6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Kansas State: Hosts Creighton (7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, March 13 in Manhattan, Kan.)
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Notables
» Mercer fell to 5-5 all-time against the current nine Big 12 Conference teams.
» David Posas thrived in the two-hole this weekend, collecting six hits and five RBI.
» Truitt's fifth multi-hit performance in the last six games extended his hit streak to nine games.
» Burks tied a season-high with six strikeouts. He also surrendered a season-high nine hits.
» All but one of Mercer's starting nine hitters collected at least one hit.
» Coulter's relief appearance was the fifth of his career.
» Mercer struck out nine batters, marking only the third time this season the Bears haven't reached double-digits in the category.
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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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