Sunday, April 22
Cullowhee, N.C.
12 p.m.
Mercer University
28-14, 8-7
12
at
0
Western Carolina
4-34, 2-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Mercer
0
0
0
0
1
1
5
5
12
13
1
Western Carolina
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vann, Christian (3-2)
L: Purus (1-9)
Batting:
2B: Truitt, Trey 1 ; Thomas, JT 1
HR: Bassett, Le 1
RBI: Hanson, Alex 2 ; Thomas, JT 2 ; Bassett, Le 4 ; Yeager, RJ 3 ; McDermott, Sean 1
SH: Hanson, Alex 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1
SF: McDermott, Sean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Truitt, Trey 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Thomas, JT 2 ; Ammons, Jordan 1 ; Bassett, Le 1 ; Cornell, Conrad 1 ; Posas, David 1 ; Yeager, RJ 2 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
SB: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Ammons, Jordan 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
HBP: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Thomas, JT 1
Base Running:
SB: Koehler 1
HBP: Sparks 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Gerrit Van Genderen
Mercer Rolls Catamounts Behind Vann, Big Bats
4/22/2018 5:35:00 PM | Baseball
Bears’ offense clicks in run-rule shortened contest
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Mercer's bats came alive to support a stellar performance by starting pitcher Christian Vann in a series-clinching 12-0 contest over Western Carolina at Childress Field on Sunday afternoon.
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Two five-run innings in the seventh and eighth innings helped Mercer (28-14, 8-7 Southern Conference) rebound from a slow start offensively after first pitch was moved up one hour in attempt to avoid inclement weather expected in the Cullowhee, N.C. area. The contest ended after a full eight innings due to the SoCon's run-rule on travel days.
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Vann (3-2) stifled Western Carolina's offense over a career-high seven innings pitched to earn the win. The senior left-hander tied a career-high of seven strikeouts while limiting the Catamounts to just two hits and three walks. He retired the first seven batters he faced and allowed just one runner past second base.
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Mercer put the game out of reach in the seventh when Le Bassett hit a pinch-hit grand slam down the right-field line to give the Bears a seven-run advantage. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch earlier in the frame set up the pivotal long ball.
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It took until the fifth inning for Mercer to get its first run on the board. The Bears utilized small ball for the second straight game as Sean McDermott advanced RJ Yeager into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt ahead of Alex Hanson's two-out, go-ahead RBI single. The Catamounts' biggest threat against Vann came in the fifth when they put the potential game-tying runner on third base after a leadoff single and throwing error. Vann proved to be unfazed, however, as he struck out the next three batters to strand the runner.
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Yeager (3-for-5, three RBI) came through with another two-out RBI single the following frame after Jordan Ammons walked and Drew Lingo collected an infield single to keep the inning alive. Six hits by the Bears in the eighth inning sealed the victory before Nick Spear tossed a hitless home half of the frame.
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Player of the Game
Christian Vann did not give Western Carolina a chance to match Mercer's offensive explosion on Sunday as he submitted one of the most impressive performances of his career. Three of the lefty's career-high seven strikeouts came in the crucial fifth inning. Opposing batters are now hitting just .185 against Vann in 44.2 innings pitched this season.
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Coach Gibson's Take
"Today was an outstanding performance by our team as whole," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Christian Vann was special over seven quality innings on the mound and I couldn't be prouder of our hitters; Le Bassett's big hit along with individual efforts by Alex Hanson and RJ Yeager really set the tone for us.
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"There were a lot of positives on this road trip to North Carolina that we can take into the upcoming week when we face the No. 1 team in the nation [Florida] on Tuesday night."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 28-14 (8-7 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: (4-34, 2-13 SoCon)
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (3-2)
» Loss: Taylor Purus (1-9)
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Up Next
» Mercer: At No. 1 Florida (6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 in Gainesville, Fla.)
» Western Carolina: At No. 15 North Carolina (6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 in Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Notables
» Eight of Mercer's 13 hits came with two outs.
» Mercer has shut out an opponent twice this season. Both games have been started by Vann.
» Mercer improved to 8-8 all-time against the Catamounts.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 65th time in 67 games dating back to last season.
» Mercer collected three stolen bases by Hanson, Ammons and Kyle Dockus.
» Three Bears had multi-hit efforts; Hanson (3-for-4), Trey Truitt (2-for-6) and Yeager (3-for-5).
» JT Thomas scored twice and added a two-run single in the eighth.
» Craig Gibson (498-435) is two wins away from career victory No. 500.
» Mercer is seven wins away from its ninth consecutive season of 35 wins or more.
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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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Two five-run innings in the seventh and eighth innings helped Mercer (28-14, 8-7 Southern Conference) rebound from a slow start offensively after first pitch was moved up one hour in attempt to avoid inclement weather expected in the Cullowhee, N.C. area. The contest ended after a full eight innings due to the SoCon's run-rule on travel days.
Â
Vann (3-2) stifled Western Carolina's offense over a career-high seven innings pitched to earn the win. The senior left-hander tied a career-high of seven strikeouts while limiting the Catamounts to just two hits and three walks. He retired the first seven batters he faced and allowed just one runner past second base.
Â
Mercer put the game out of reach in the seventh when Le Bassett hit a pinch-hit grand slam down the right-field line to give the Bears a seven-run advantage. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch earlier in the frame set up the pivotal long ball.
Â
It took until the fifth inning for Mercer to get its first run on the board. The Bears utilized small ball for the second straight game as Sean McDermott advanced RJ Yeager into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt ahead of Alex Hanson's two-out, go-ahead RBI single. The Catamounts' biggest threat against Vann came in the fifth when they put the potential game-tying runner on third base after a leadoff single and throwing error. Vann proved to be unfazed, however, as he struck out the next three batters to strand the runner.
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Yeager (3-for-5, three RBI) came through with another two-out RBI single the following frame after Jordan Ammons walked and Drew Lingo collected an infield single to keep the inning alive. Six hits by the Bears in the eighth inning sealed the victory before Nick Spear tossed a hitless home half of the frame.
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Player of the Game
Christian Vann did not give Western Carolina a chance to match Mercer's offensive explosion on Sunday as he submitted one of the most impressive performances of his career. Three of the lefty's career-high seven strikeouts came in the crucial fifth inning. Opposing batters are now hitting just .185 against Vann in 44.2 innings pitched this season.
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Coach Gibson's Take
"Today was an outstanding performance by our team as whole," said head coach Craig Gibson. "Christian Vann was special over seven quality innings on the mound and I couldn't be prouder of our hitters; Le Bassett's big hit along with individual efforts by Alex Hanson and RJ Yeager really set the tone for us.
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"There were a lot of positives on this road trip to North Carolina that we can take into the upcoming week when we face the No. 1 team in the nation [Florida] on Tuesday night."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 28-14 (8-7 SoCon)
» Western Carolina: (4-34, 2-13 SoCon)
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Christian Vann (3-2)
» Loss: Taylor Purus (1-9)
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Up Next
» Mercer: At No. 1 Florida (6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 in Gainesville, Fla.)
» Western Carolina: At No. 15 North Carolina (6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 in Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Notables
» Eight of Mercer's 13 hits came with two outs.
» Mercer has shut out an opponent twice this season. Both games have been started by Vann.
» Mercer improved to 8-8 all-time against the Catamounts.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 65th time in 67 games dating back to last season.
» Mercer collected three stolen bases by Hanson, Ammons and Kyle Dockus.
» Three Bears had multi-hit efforts; Hanson (3-for-4), Trey Truitt (2-for-6) and Yeager (3-for-5).
» JT Thomas scored twice and added a two-run single in the eighth.
» Craig Gibson (498-435) is two wins away from career victory No. 500.
» Mercer is seven wins away from its ninth consecutive season of 35 wins or more.
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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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