Friday, March 8
Macon, Ga.
6 p.m.
Mercer University
9-6
7
vs
12
Indiana State
10-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Indiana State
7
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
12
17
4
Mercer
0
0
2
0
4
1
0
0
0
7
6
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Polley,T (3-0)
L: Gipson-Long, Sawyer (2-2)
S: Ridgway,J (3)
Batting:
2B: Means,J 1 ; Wright,M 1 ; Fegen,L 1
HR: Dungan,C 1 ; Harris,R 1 ; Wright,M 1
RBI: Dungan,C 4 ; Enriquez,R 1 ; Harris,R 2 ; Wright,M 4 ; Fegen,L 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dungan,C 1 ; Means,J 2 ; Enriquez,R 1 ; Harris,R 1 ; Watkins,J 2 ; Lewis,H 1 ; Wright,M 1 ; Huntley,C 1 ; Fegen,L 2
SB: Fegen,L 1
Batting:
2B: Wilkinson, Garrett 1
HR: Johnson, Kel 1
RBI: Johnson, Kel 6
Base Running:
RUNS: Dockus, Kyle 2 ; Austin, Trevor 2 ; Yeager, RJ 1 ; Johnson, Kel 1 ; DiSpigna, Angelo 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
6
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
Photo by: Ken Lanese
Bears Drop Series Opener After Early Deficit
3/8/2019 10:27:00 PM | Baseball
Mercer defeated by Indiana State, 12-7, on Friday
MACON, Ga. – A seven-run first-inning deficit was too much to overcome as Mercer dropped its series opener to Indiana State, 12-7, at OrthoGeorgia Park on Friday night.
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The visiting Sycamores (10-1) plated seven runs on eight hits in the top half of the first inning against Mercer starting pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, who took the loss and moved to 2-2 this season. Mercer (9-6) outscored Indiana State over the remainder of the game, but could not complete a rally.
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Kel Johnson provided the bulk of Mercer's offensive firepower, going 2-for-5 with six runs batted in on a grand slam and two-run single. The graduate senior's grand slam cut Indiana State's lead in half, 12-6, in the fifth inning. Mercer added one more run in the sixth when Angelo DiSpigna scored on a wild pitch.
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Taylor Lobus, Holton McGaha and Andrew Kane logged five combined innings of relief and allowed just one total run while striking out six Sycamores. Gipson-Long allowed 11 runs on 14 hits while striking out four and walking one batter.
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Coach Gibson's Take
"Credit to Indiana State for coming in here ready to play," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We got punched in the face early and it's clear that those guys have a really good club; they're offensive and they're experienced.
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"We haven't been hit that hard in the first inning in some time. I'll give our guys credit for playing strong throughout the rest of the game; our bullpen was strong and we continue to play well defensively. We got down and could've rolled over, but we fought and gave ourselves a chance."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 9-6
» Indiana State: 10-1
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Triston Polley (3-0)
» Save: Jake Ridgeway (3)
» Loss: Sawyer Gipson-Long (2-2)
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Player of the Game
Kel Johnson plated six runs on two swings Friday night to lead Mercer offensively. His two-run single in the third was Mercer's first bright spot of the game and he followed it up with his fourth home run of the season, a grand slam, in the fifth.
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Notables
» Taylor Lobus tossed a season-high three innings, allowing one run on three hits.
» Johnson and Garrett Wilkinson collected two hits apiece.
» Johnson has reached base in 14 consecutive games.
» Andrew Kane has not allowed a run over 4.2 innings and five appearances on the mound.
» Kyle Dockus and Trevor Austin scored two runs apiece.
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Up Next
Mercer and Indiana State will continue their four-game series with a doubleheader at OrthoGeorgia Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET). The doubleheader will feature two seven-inning games.
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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 visiting Sycamores (10-1) plated seven runs on eight hits in the top half of the first inning against Mercer starting pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, who took the loss and moved to 2-2 this season. Mercer (9-6) outscored Indiana State over the remainder of the game, but could not complete a rally.
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Kel Johnson provided the bulk of Mercer's offensive firepower, going 2-for-5 with six runs batted in on a grand slam and two-run single. The graduate senior's grand slam cut Indiana State's lead in half, 12-6, in the fifth inning. Mercer added one more run in the sixth when Angelo DiSpigna scored on a wild pitch.
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Taylor Lobus, Holton McGaha and Andrew Kane logged five combined innings of relief and allowed just one total run while striking out six Sycamores. Gipson-Long allowed 11 runs on 14 hits while striking out four and walking one batter.
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Coach Gibson's Take
"Credit to Indiana State for coming in here ready to play," said head coach Craig Gibson. "We got punched in the face early and it's clear that those guys have a really good club; they're offensive and they're experienced.
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"We haven't been hit that hard in the first inning in some time. I'll give our guys credit for playing strong throughout the rest of the game; our bullpen was strong and we continue to play well defensively. We got down and could've rolled over, but we fought and gave ourselves a chance."
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Records Update
» Mercer: 9-6
» Indiana State: 10-1
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Triston Polley (3-0)
» Save: Jake Ridgeway (3)
» Loss: Sawyer Gipson-Long (2-2)
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Player of the Game
Kel Johnson plated six runs on two swings Friday night to lead Mercer offensively. His two-run single in the third was Mercer's first bright spot of the game and he followed it up with his fourth home run of the season, a grand slam, in the fifth.
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Notables
» Taylor Lobus tossed a season-high three innings, allowing one run on three hits.
» Johnson and Garrett Wilkinson collected two hits apiece.
» Johnson has reached base in 14 consecutive games.
» Andrew Kane has not allowed a run over 4.2 innings and five appearances on the mound.
» Kyle Dockus and Trevor Austin scored two runs apiece.
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Up Next
Mercer and Indiana State will continue their four-game series with a doubleheader at OrthoGeorgia Park on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET). The doubleheader will feature two seven-inning games.
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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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