Mercer University
25-7, 0
Furman
15-15, 0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jordan Beatson (1-0)
L: Broom, Robert (6-1)
S: Tyler Kimbrell (4)
Batting:
2B: Brandon Elmy 1 ; Deon Sanders 1 ; Bret Huebner 1
3B: Ben Anderson 1
HR: Jared Mihalik 1 ; Jake Crawford 1
RBI: Ben Anderson 2 ; Jason Costa 1 ; Jared Mihalik 2 ; Jake Crawford 3 ; Landon Kay 1 ; Bret Huebner 1
SH: Bret Huebner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ben Anderson 2 ; Jason Costa 1 ; Jared Mihalik 2 ; Jake Crawford 1 ; David Webel 1 ; Deon Sanders 1 ; Jabari Richards 1 ; Bret Huebner 2 ; Sims Griffith 1
SB: Ben Anderson 2
Batting:
2B: Cornell, Conrad 1 ; Bassett, Le 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1
HR: Ware, Jackson 1
RBI: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Yeager, RJ 2 ; Ware, Jackson 2 ; Cornell, Conrad 1 ; Bassett, Le 2
SH: Posas, David 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
SF: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hanson, Alex 1 ; Ammons, Jordan 1 ; Yeager, RJ 1 ; Ware, Jackson 2 ; Cornell, Conrad 1 ; McDermott, Sean 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 2
SB: Hanson, Alex 2 ; Posas, David 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
HBP: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Ware, Jackson 1 ; Posas, David 2
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Mercer Falters in Series Opener to Furman
4/6/2018 10:50:00 PM | Baseball
Late rally not enough; Paladins scored all 12 runs in two innings
Â
The Bears (25-7, 5-2 SoCon) saw their six-game win streak snapped as Furman (15-15, 1-3) scored all 12 runs in two innings; four runs in the fifth and eight runs in the eighth. Robert Broom (6-1) took the loss, surrendering five runs (two earned) in 1.1 innings.
Â
Mercer kept within striking distance with five runs of its own in the home half of the eighth, but was unable to complete the full rally. Trey Truitt represented the tying run in the bottom of the ninth before he was called out on strikes to end the game. Consecutive doubles by Conrad Cornell and Le Bassett highlighted Mercer's five-run eighth inning.
Â
With the contest tied, 4-4, entering the eighth, Mercer allowed eight runs – six of which were unearned – on seven hits to the Paladins. A costly throwing error on a play at the plate extended the inning.
Â
Mercer jumped out to a three-run lead through four innings played before Furman's response. In the third, Kyle Dockus scored on an infield single by Alex Hanson after drawing a leadoff walk and swiping second base. Hanson would later score on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Ware. The Bears added their third run in the fourth when Sean McDermott led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by RJ Yeager.
Â
Austin Cox went five innings for the Bears in a no-decision. He struck out seven batters but allowed four runs on six hits over 23 batters faced.
Â
Coach Gibson's Take
"I thought Furman played extremely well tonight; they came into town and punched us in the mouth by getting out in front of us," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We made some mistakes we haven't made in three or four weeks and they came back to cost us.
Â
"You can't do that against a good team and Furman took advantage of it. They out-pitched us, out-played us and out-coached us tonight. We'll have a better effort and look to respond Saturday."
Â
Player of the Game
Alex Hanson reached base twice, scored once and drove in a run in a 1-for-3 effort Friday. The senior extended his reached base streak to 30 games with a single and a walk and added two stolen bases.
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 25-7 (5-2 SoCon)
» Furman: 15-15 (1-3 SoCon)
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jordan Beatson (1-0)
» Loss: Robert Broom (6-1)
» Save: Tyler Kimbrell (4)
Â
Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Furman (6 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Furman: At Mercer (6 p.m. Saturday, April 7 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
Â
Notables
» The loss was Mercer's first in games started by Austin Cox this season (7-1).
» Mercer has only lost twice in weekend series openers this season.
» Yeager tallied two RBI, increasing his season total to a team-high 32.
» Hanson extended his reached base streak to 30 games.
» Trey Truitt (0-for-6) saw his career-long 29-game reached base streak snapped.
» Ware's home run was the 19th of his career and fourth of the season.
» Ben Brock made his third appearance in as many games, throwing one scoreless inning.
Â
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.
Â
