Bears Seek Sweep of Georgia Tech on Tuesday

Tuesday, April 10

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

Georgia Tech

Tickets

4/9/2018 7:06:00 PM | Baseball

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Mercer is 7-0 against in-state opponents this season

By: Gerrit W. Van Genderen

MACON, Ga. – Mercer welcomes in-state foe Georgia Tech to OrthoGeorgia Park on Tuesday as the two Peach State programs clash for a second time this season in nonconference action.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the contest will be aired live via ESPN3. The Bears (26-8) will seek a season sweep of Georgia Tech (19-13) and look to remain undefeated against in-state opponents after seven wins against Georgia teams so far this season.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (26-8) vs. Georgia Tech (19-13)
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 10 | 6 p.m.
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Tickets: www.tickets.mercer.edu
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/livestats
Watch: ESPN3
Projected Starters: LHP Austin Cox (6-0, 4.85 ERA) vs. Brant Hurter (2-2, 4.85 ERA)

Batting Practice

Tuesday's game will be a staff day for Mercer, as Austin Cox is expected to throw one inning in preparation for his weekend series start at Samford on Friday.
The Bears are 9-1 in midweek contests.
Mercer is 7-0 against in-state opponents.
Mercer can earn its first season sweep of Georgia Tech since 2014.
Mercer is one of five teams nationally with 26 wins or more (Florida, Duke, Ole Miss, Texas Tech).
Mercer has defeated Georgia Tech eight times in the Craig Gibson era.
Craig Gibson (496-339) is four wins away from career victory No. 500.
Trey Truitt is one of two players nationally (Matt Sanders, Troy) with 50-plus hits and 40-plus runs scored.
Mercer is one of three teams nationally with 13 players to have hit at least one home run this season (Tennessee Tech, 15; Elon, 13).
Mercer ranks in the top 10 nationally in 10 statistical categories.
- Strikeouts per nine innings (first, 11.5)
- Strikeouts (first, 389)
- Hits (second, 386)
- Hit by pitch (second, 67)
- Runs (second, 300)
- Scoring (second, 8.8)
- On base percentage (fifth, .422)
- Batting average (fifth, .316)
- Home runs (seventh, 46)
- Home runs per game (eighth, 1.35)
- Slugging percentage (ninth, .490)

A Look at the Series
The last time Mercer defeated Georgia Tech twice in a season was 2014 when the Bears took two from the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta on March 25 and April 23. Mercer trails by a wide margin in the all-time series (111-56).

Series: Georgia Tech, 111-56
First Meeting: April 17, 1897 | Mercer 9-6 in Macon, Ga.
Last Meeting: March 21, 2018 | Mercer 6-2 in Atlanta, Ga.
Streak: Mercer, 1

A Look at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has played well of late, sweeping Miami and taking a series victory over Florida State in the last two weekends of ACC play. The Yellow Jackets have defeated Georgia Southern and fallen to Georgia in midweek in-state competition since last facing Mercer on March 21.

With a .306 batting average and 11 players with at least one home run this season, Georgia Tech possesses a potent lineup. The Yellow Jackets will start freshman left-hander Brant Hurter – who is one of four Woodstock High School products on both teams – on the mound Tuesday. Hurter has thrown 26 innings over seven appearances, including six starts, and owns a 4.85 ERA with 23 strikeouts.

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.