Saturday, February 16
Macon, Ga.
2 p.m.
Mercer University
2-0
7
vs
6
Evansville
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Evansville
0
0
2
0
2
1
0
0
1
6
11
2
Mercer
0
5
0
0
2
0
0
0
X
7
7
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hall, Tanner (1-0)
L: Croner, Nathan (0-1)
S: Coulter, Kevin (2)
Batting:
HR: Fritz, A.J. 1 ; Reeder, Nate 2
RBI: Fritz, A.J. 2 ; Borgstron, Danny 1 ; Reeder, Nate 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Beilsmith, Troy 1 ; Fritz, A.J. 1 ; Troyer, Sam 1 ; Komonsky, Ben 1 ; Reeder, Nate 2
SB: Beilsmith, Troy 1 ; Troyer, Sam 1
CS: Beilsmith, Troy 1
HBP: Troyer, Sam 1 ; Komonsky, Ben 1
Batting:
2B: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Austin, Trevor 1 ; Miller, Zach 1
HR: Johnson, Kel 1
RBI: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Austin, Trevor 1 ; Johnson, Kel 3 ; Wilkinson, Garrett 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
SH: Austin, Trevor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Yeager, RJ 1 ; Austin, Trevor 1 ; Johnson, Kel 1 ; Price, Collin 1 ; Miller, Zach 1 ; Knight, Bill 1 ; Dockus, Kyle 1
SB: Wilkinson, Garrett 1
CS: Dockus, Kyle 1
HBP: Dockus, Kyle 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
3B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Photo by: Daniel Gibbons
Bears Take Evansville Series with 7-6 Win
2/16/2019 5:56:00 PM | Baseball
Kel Johnson goes deep for second straight game to open season
MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored five runs with two outs in the second inning and hung on late to defeat Evansville, 7-6, and clinch the season-opening series on Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
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Three consecutive two-out hits by RJ Yeager, Trevor Austin and Kel Johnson plated all five runs in the second inning, giving Mercer (2-0) and starting pitcher Tanner Hall an early boost against the visiting Purple Aces (0-2). Johnson's hit was a pivotal three-run home run to left field; the graduate transfer two long balls in as many games as a Bear.
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Hall (1-0) went 4.1 innings on the mound but still picked up the win after entering the game on a designated pitch count. The lefty struck out three and walked one while scattering six hits and allowing four runs, all of which came on a pair of two-run home runs. He left the game in the fifth with a 5-4 advantage.
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The bottom of Mercer's batting order provided some mid-game relief in the fifth when Garrett Wilkinson notched a RBI groundout and was followed by a RBI single from Kyle Dockus to give the Bears a 7-4 advantage. After pulling within two runs in the sixth, Evansville inched closer with a ninth-inning leadoff home run by Nate Reeder. Mercer turned the game over to senior Kevin Coulter, who retired three straight batters to earn his second save in as many days.
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Player of the Game
Kel Johnson's three-run blast provided enough firepower for the Bears' offense on Saturday. The graduate senior went 1-for-4 at the plate, but the long ball helped Mercer build a five-run lead through two innings played. Johnson leads the team in home runs (2) and runs batted in (4) so far.
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Coach Gibson's Take
"It was a great start on the mound for Tanner Hall today after not playing a huge role for us last season. [Hall] has really come along and is a different guy this year. I am proud of our bullpen as well; Jackson Kelley, Beau Healy and Kevin Coulter were solid and allowed just two runs to a quality Evansville lineup over the final 4.2 innings.
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"The top of the order was really good for us today with Yeager, Austin and Johnson tagging some key hits early in the game. We're ready to go out and get game three [Sunday]."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Evansville: 0-2
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Tanner Hall (1-0)
» Save: Kevin Coulter (2)
» Loss: Nathan Croner (0-1)
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Notables
» Saturday marked Tanner Hall's first weekend start as a Bear.
» Jackson Kelley and Beau Healy made their Mercer debuts on the mound, tossing a combined 3.2 innings of relief.
» Kevin Coulter has struck out three batters and not allowed a hit in his 1.2 innings of relief.
» RJ Yeager was the lone Bear with multiple hits (2). He was 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run.
» Bill Knight earned his first collegiate start at third base.
» Trevor Austin's third hit of the season was RBI double.
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Up Next
Mercer and Evansville will conclude their three-game series at 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday. The series finale was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but was moved up due to the threat of inclement weather in the Middle Georgia area.
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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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Three consecutive two-out hits by RJ Yeager, Trevor Austin and Kel Johnson plated all five runs in the second inning, giving Mercer (2-0) and starting pitcher Tanner Hall an early boost against the visiting Purple Aces (0-2). Johnson's hit was a pivotal three-run home run to left field; the graduate transfer two long balls in as many games as a Bear.
Â
Hall (1-0) went 4.1 innings on the mound but still picked up the win after entering the game on a designated pitch count. The lefty struck out three and walked one while scattering six hits and allowing four runs, all of which came on a pair of two-run home runs. He left the game in the fifth with a 5-4 advantage.
Â
The bottom of Mercer's batting order provided some mid-game relief in the fifth when Garrett Wilkinson notched a RBI groundout and was followed by a RBI single from Kyle Dockus to give the Bears a 7-4 advantage. After pulling within two runs in the sixth, Evansville inched closer with a ninth-inning leadoff home run by Nate Reeder. Mercer turned the game over to senior Kevin Coulter, who retired three straight batters to earn his second save in as many days.
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Player of the Game
Kel Johnson's three-run blast provided enough firepower for the Bears' offense on Saturday. The graduate senior went 1-for-4 at the plate, but the long ball helped Mercer build a five-run lead through two innings played. Johnson leads the team in home runs (2) and runs batted in (4) so far.
Â
Coach Gibson's Take
"It was a great start on the mound for Tanner Hall today after not playing a huge role for us last season. [Hall] has really come along and is a different guy this year. I am proud of our bullpen as well; Jackson Kelley, Beau Healy and Kevin Coulter were solid and allowed just two runs to a quality Evansville lineup over the final 4.2 innings.
Â
"The top of the order was really good for us today with Yeager, Austin and Johnson tagging some key hits early in the game. We're ready to go out and get game three [Sunday]."
Â
Records Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Evansville: 0-2
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Tanner Hall (1-0)
» Save: Kevin Coulter (2)
» Loss: Nathan Croner (0-1)
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Notables
» Saturday marked Tanner Hall's first weekend start as a Bear.
» Jackson Kelley and Beau Healy made their Mercer debuts on the mound, tossing a combined 3.2 innings of relief.
» Kevin Coulter has struck out three batters and not allowed a hit in his 1.2 innings of relief.
» RJ Yeager was the lone Bear with multiple hits (2). He was 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run.
» Bill Knight earned his first collegiate start at third base.
» Trevor Austin's third hit of the season was RBI double.
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Up Next
Mercer and Evansville will conclude their three-game series at 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday. The series finale was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but was moved up due to the threat of inclement weather in the Middle Georgia area.
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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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