Friday, April 13
Birmingham, Ala.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
26-10, 6-4
0
at
7
Samford
21-14, 8-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Samford
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
4
X
7
11
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cody Shelton (2-2)
L: Cox, Austin (6-1)
S: Wyatt Burns (5)
Base Running:
CS: Ware, Jackson 1
HBP: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Posas, David 2
Batting:
HR: Brooks Carlson 1
RBI: Troy Dixon 2 ; Brooks Carlson 3 ; Austin Edens 1 ; Taylor Garris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Branden Fryman 1 ; Troy Dixon 1 ; Brooks Carlson 2 ; Ayrton Schafer 1 ; Sam Teague 1 ; Anthony Mulrine 1
SB: Branden Fryman 2
PO: Austin Edens 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Gerrit Van Genderen
Bears Silenced in Road Loss at Samford
4/13/2018 8:51:00 PM | Baseball
Austin Cox goes seven innings in seven-run loss
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mercer mustered just two hits and spoiled a quality start from junior Austin Cox in a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Southern Conference foe Samford on Friday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The Bears (26-10, 6-4 SoCon) dropped their series opener for the second straight weekend despite Cox allowing just three runs (one earned) over seven innings of work against the host Bulldogs (21-14, 8-2), who won their 10th consecutive contest. Mercer managed only six baserunners on three hit-by-pitches, one walk and a pair of infield singles, both by Jackson Ware (2-for-4), and did not get a runner past second base.
Samford put its first two runs on the board with a pair of infield singles in the third inning. Branden Fryman reached on a bunt single and later scored on an infield single to third base by Brooks Carlson after stealing second base. Carlson would score on a single by Austin Edens in the following at bat.
Samford broke the game open in the eighth when a shallow fly ball to center field dropped between a trio of Bears, allowing two runners to score. A two-run home run in the next at bat made it a seven-run game.
Coach Gibson's Take
"We couldn't have asked for more out of Austin Cox on the mound tonight; he gave up just one earned run over seven innings against a really quality Samford team," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Other than that, we had a couple mistakes defensively, couldn't get a [sacrifice] bunt down and made mistakes on the base paths.
"Those kinds of mistakes will cost you a conference game on the road to a team [Samford] that is playing really well right now. We have to regroup and get back to it Saturday."
Player of the Game
Despite taking his first loss of the season, Austin Cox (6-1) did what he could to keep the Bears close Friday afternoon. The left-hander scattered seven hits and struck out five Bulldogs while keeping them off-balance all game. Cox finished his outing with a bases-loaded strikeout to strand three runners.
Records Update
» Mercer: 26-10 (6-4 SoCon)
» Samford: 21-14 (8-2 SoCon)
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Cody Shelton (2-2)
» Loss: Austin Cox (6-1)
» Save: Wyatt Burns (5)
Notables
» Mercer was last held scoreless in a 1-0 defeat at UNCG on May 19, 2016.
» Alex Hanson and RJ Yeager reached base for the 34th and 26th consecutive games, respectively.
» Cox pitched through the seventh inning for the second time this season.
» Ware's two-hit performance was his 16th of the season.
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.
The Bears (26-10, 6-4 SoCon) dropped their series opener for the second straight weekend despite Cox allowing just three runs (one earned) over seven innings of work against the host Bulldogs (21-14, 8-2), who won their 10th consecutive contest. Mercer managed only six baserunners on three hit-by-pitches, one walk and a pair of infield singles, both by Jackson Ware (2-for-4), and did not get a runner past second base.
Samford put its first two runs on the board with a pair of infield singles in the third inning. Branden Fryman reached on a bunt single and later scored on an infield single to third base by Brooks Carlson after stealing second base. Carlson would score on a single by Austin Edens in the following at bat.
Samford broke the game open in the eighth when a shallow fly ball to center field dropped between a trio of Bears, allowing two runners to score. A two-run home run in the next at bat made it a seven-run game.
Coach Gibson's Take
"We couldn't have asked for more out of Austin Cox on the mound tonight; he gave up just one earned run over seven innings against a really quality Samford team," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Other than that, we had a couple mistakes defensively, couldn't get a [sacrifice] bunt down and made mistakes on the base paths.
"Those kinds of mistakes will cost you a conference game on the road to a team [Samford] that is playing really well right now. We have to regroup and get back to it Saturday."
Player of the Game
Despite taking his first loss of the season, Austin Cox (6-1) did what he could to keep the Bears close Friday afternoon. The left-hander scattered seven hits and struck out five Bulldogs while keeping them off-balance all game. Cox finished his outing with a bases-loaded strikeout to strand three runners.
Records Update
» Mercer: 26-10 (6-4 SoCon)
» Samford: 21-14 (8-2 SoCon)
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Cody Shelton (2-2)
» Loss: Austin Cox (6-1)
» Save: Wyatt Burns (5)
Notables
» Mercer was last held scoreless in a 1-0 defeat at UNCG on May 19, 2016.
» Alex Hanson and RJ Yeager reached base for the 34th and 26th consecutive games, respectively.
» Cox pitched through the seventh inning for the second time this season.
» Ware's two-hit performance was his 16th of the season.
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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