Tuesday, April 24
Gainesville, Fla.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
29-14
6
at
4
Florida
34-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mercer
1
0
3
1
0
0
0
1
0
6
7
0
Florida
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
9
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Broom, Robert (8-1)
L: Connor Churchill (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Bassett, Le 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1
HR: Yeager, RJ 1
RBI: Yeager, RJ 2 ; Bassett, Le 3 ; McDermott, Sean 1
SH: Yeager, RJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Truitt, Trey 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Thomas, JT 1 ; Wright, Cory 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
Batting:
HR: Wil Dalton 1
RBI: Wil Dalton 2 ; Blake Reese 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nelson Maldonado 1 ; Wil Dalton 1 ; JJ Schwarz 1 ; Austin Langworthy 1
SB: JJ Schwarz 1 ; Blake Reese 1
CS: Jonathan India 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
1B
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
Photo by: Parker King
Bears Take Down No. 1 Florida on Road Tuesday
4/24/2018 9:21:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer defeats top-ranked Florida for third straight time
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Robert Broom tossed six innings of scoreless relief and a pair of freshmen collected five runs batted in as Mercer upset No. 1-ranked Florida, 6-4, at McKethan Stadium on Tuesday.
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The Bears (29-14) notched their third straight victory over Florida (34-9) dating back to 2006. Florida has been ranked in the top-10 nationally – including No. 1 twice (2006, 2018) – in all three of the two teams' most recent meetings.
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Freshmen RJ Yeager and Le Bassett combined for five RBI, including three in a pivotal, game-tying third inning that helped propel the Bears to the midweek win. Mercer was out-hit, 7-9, but made the most of its opportunities against five Gator pitchers.
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Mercer capitalized on three consecutive walks to score the game's first run in the opening frame when Le Bassett drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Trey Truitt, who originally extended the inning with a two-out single. Florida responded quickly with four runs on four hits in the home half of the first to bounce Mercer starter Zach Graveno after one inning.
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A solo home run by Yeager led off the third inning and jumpstarted a three-run frame for the Bears. After Yeager's long ball cut Florida's lead to two, Bassett deposited a two-run double into the left-center gap that scored Jackson Ware (walk) and JT Thomas (single).
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Sawyer Gipson-Long limited Florida to one hit over the second and third innings to bridge the gap to Broom, who closed out the Gators with a career performance on the mound. The junior allowed just four hits over a career-long six innings while striking out 12 batters. He issued just one walk as well.
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Mercer plated the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth when Yeager executed a safety squeeze bunt to score Kyle Dockus, who led off the inning with a single and advanced third base on a throwing error and single by Alex Hanson. The Bears added an insurance run in the eighth when Sean McDermott doubled down the left-field line to score Cory Wright, who pinch-ran for Bassett, from first base.
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Player of the Game
Robert Broom was the difference in Mercer's two-run win, as the junior struck out a career-high 12 batters over a career-long six innings of relief. The Rising Fawn, Ga., native was on top of his game from start to finish; he retired the first six batters he faced and struck out three of the final five batters to close the game.
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Postgame Quotes
Coach Gibson's opening statement:
"This was an outstanding win for our program and hopefully it is one we can use to gain some momentum heading into the final handful of regular season games ahead of us," said head coach Craig Gibson. "If this game can't spark you, I don't know what can. [Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan] is a great friend of mine and I appreciate him giving us the opportunity to come down here and play in a great environment."
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Gibson on Broom's pitching performance:
"[Broom's] make up is outstanding [and] he loves this environment; he's very consistent for us and was great in the Cape [Cod League] last summer. You have to be great to win in this kind of game and Broom certainly was. I don't think we could have taken him out of the game tonight."
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Robert Broom on his performance:
"From the get-go, I was feeling great out there. As the innings progressed, I found better command of my pitches and just trusted my stuff. I didn't know how long I'd be out there or when I would be out there, but you simply have to trust your stuff.
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"I'm grateful for the opportunity to pitch longer than I thought I would. Every time I go out there I try to exceed expectations for what I'm able to do on the mound."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 29-14
» No. 1 Florida: 34-8
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Robert Broom (8-1)
» Loss: Connor Churchill (0-1)
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Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts VMI (6 p.m. Friday, April 27 in Macon, Ga.)
» No. 1 Florida: Hosts Auburn (7 p.m. Friday, April 27 in Gainesville, Fla.)
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Notables
» Mercer has defeated Florida three straight times dating back to 2006.
» Craig Gibson improved to 3-1 against Florida.
» Craig Gibson (499-345) is one win away from career victory No. 500.
» Mercer's 14 strikeouts are its most since striking out 15 against Furman on April 8.
» Mercer's 460 strikeouts lead the nation.
» Yeager's solo home run was his fifth of the season.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 66th time in 68 games dating back to last season.
» JT Thomas threw out two runners attempting to steal third base.
» Mercer batted 6-for-13 in advancement opportunities.
» Bassett reached base three times while going 1-for-2 with three RBI.
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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 (29-14) notched their third straight victory over Florida (34-9) dating back to 2006. Florida has been ranked in the top-10 nationally – including No. 1 twice (2006, 2018) – in all three of the two teams' most recent meetings.
Â
Freshmen RJ Yeager and Le Bassett combined for five RBI, including three in a pivotal, game-tying third inning that helped propel the Bears to the midweek win. Mercer was out-hit, 7-9, but made the most of its opportunities against five Gator pitchers.
Â
Mercer capitalized on three consecutive walks to score the game's first run in the opening frame when Le Bassett drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Trey Truitt, who originally extended the inning with a two-out single. Florida responded quickly with four runs on four hits in the home half of the first to bounce Mercer starter Zach Graveno after one inning.
Â
A solo home run by Yeager led off the third inning and jumpstarted a three-run frame for the Bears. After Yeager's long ball cut Florida's lead to two, Bassett deposited a two-run double into the left-center gap that scored Jackson Ware (walk) and JT Thomas (single).
Â
Sawyer Gipson-Long limited Florida to one hit over the second and third innings to bridge the gap to Broom, who closed out the Gators with a career performance on the mound. The junior allowed just four hits over a career-long six innings while striking out 12 batters. He issued just one walk as well.
Â
Mercer plated the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth when Yeager executed a safety squeeze bunt to score Kyle Dockus, who led off the inning with a single and advanced third base on a throwing error and single by Alex Hanson. The Bears added an insurance run in the eighth when Sean McDermott doubled down the left-field line to score Cory Wright, who pinch-ran for Bassett, from first base.
Â
Player of the Game
Robert Broom was the difference in Mercer's two-run win, as the junior struck out a career-high 12 batters over a career-long six innings of relief. The Rising Fawn, Ga., native was on top of his game from start to finish; he retired the first six batters he faced and struck out three of the final five batters to close the game.
Â
Postgame Quotes
Coach Gibson's opening statement:
"This was an outstanding win for our program and hopefully it is one we can use to gain some momentum heading into the final handful of regular season games ahead of us," said head coach Craig Gibson. "If this game can't spark you, I don't know what can. [Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan] is a great friend of mine and I appreciate him giving us the opportunity to come down here and play in a great environment."
Â
Gibson on Broom's pitching performance:
"[Broom's] make up is outstanding [and] he loves this environment; he's very consistent for us and was great in the Cape [Cod League] last summer. You have to be great to win in this kind of game and Broom certainly was. I don't think we could have taken him out of the game tonight."
Â
Robert Broom on his performance:
"From the get-go, I was feeling great out there. As the innings progressed, I found better command of my pitches and just trusted my stuff. I didn't know how long I'd be out there or when I would be out there, but you simply have to trust your stuff.
Â
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to pitch longer than I thought I would. Every time I go out there I try to exceed expectations for what I'm able to do on the mound."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 29-14
» No. 1 Florida: 34-8
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Robert Broom (8-1)
» Loss: Connor Churchill (0-1)
Â
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts VMI (6 p.m. Friday, April 27 in Macon, Ga.)
» No. 1 Florida: Hosts Auburn (7 p.m. Friday, April 27 in Gainesville, Fla.)
Â
Notables
» Mercer has defeated Florida three straight times dating back to 2006.
» Craig Gibson improved to 3-1 against Florida.
» Craig Gibson (499-345) is one win away from career victory No. 500.
» Mercer's 14 strikeouts are its most since striking out 15 against Furman on April 8.
» Mercer's 460 strikeouts lead the nation.
» Yeager's solo home run was his fifth of the season.
» Alex Hanson reached base safely for the 66th time in 68 games dating back to last season.
» JT Thomas threw out two runners attempting to steal third base.
» Mercer batted 6-for-13 in advancement opportunities.
» Bassett reached base three times while going 1-for-2 with three RBI.
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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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