Friday, February 14
Macon, Ga.
4 p.m.
Mercer University
vs
Maryland - Eastern Shore
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Bears Host Maryland-Eastern Shore in Season-Opening Series
2/13/2020 11:13:00 AM | Baseball
Mercer begins 2020 season at home against the Hawks
MACON, Ga. – Mercer will open its 2020 baseball campaign with a four-game home series against Maryland-Eastern Shore, beginning at 4 p.m. Friday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
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Prior to first pitch on Friday, the Bears will unveil their 2019 Southern Conference Championship banner. There will be Valentine's Day giveaways throughout the contest, and Toby the Bear will make an appearance. Following the conclusion of Friday night's contest, all fans are welcome to run the bases.
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The game features giveaways for both students and season ticket holders. The first 300 Mercer Students in attendance will receive a Baseball T-Shirt and free pizza. Season ticket holders can enter the chance to win Valentine's Day giveaways throughout the game and a Mercer Bear T-Shirt Jersey!
For tickets to Friday nights game, click here.Â
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GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (0-0) vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 14 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 15 (Game One) | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 15 (Game Two) | 5 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday: Feb. 17 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Tickets: tickets.mercer.edu
Projected Rotations:
Batting Practice
The Hawks were picked eighth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) this season, garnering 26 points including one first place vote in the preseason poll. Maryland-Eastern Shore owned a 10-44 overall record (4-20 MEAC) last season.
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Leading the Hawks at the plate is Brian Cordell. Last season as a sophomore, Cordell led the team with a .278 batting average and finished second on the team driving in 21 runs. He was 10-for-11 on stolen bases. As a team, the Hawks hit .236 and had an on-base percentage of .319.
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On the mound, Maryland-Eastern Shore returns Marty Tolson, Dwayne Marshall and Caleb Walston, all who pitched the most innings for the team last year. Tolson was 0-8 on the season with an ERA of 4.64, while Marshall was 3-5 with a 6.38 ERA in 12 starts. Walston made 18 appearances making nine starts, had a 1-6 record with a 9.79 ERA.
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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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Prior to first pitch on Friday, the Bears will unveil their 2019 Southern Conference Championship banner. There will be Valentine's Day giveaways throughout the contest, and Toby the Bear will make an appearance. Following the conclusion of Friday night's contest, all fans are welcome to run the bases.
Â
The game features giveaways for both students and season ticket holders. The first 300 Mercer Students in attendance will receive a Baseball T-Shirt and free pizza. Season ticket holders can enter the chance to win Valentine's Day giveaways throughout the game and a Mercer Bear T-Shirt Jersey!
For tickets to Friday nights game, click here.Â
Â
GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (0-0) vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | OrthoGeorgia Park
Friday: Feb. 14 | 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 15 (Game One) | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: Feb. 15 (Game Two) | 5 p.m. | Live Stats
Sunday: Feb. 17 | 1 p.m. | Live Stats
Tickets: tickets.mercer.edu
Projected Rotations:
- Friday: LHP Tanner Hall vs. RHP Dwayne Marshall
- Saturday (G1): RHP Taylor Lobus vs. RHP Marty Tolson
- Saturday (G2): Â RHP Jackson Kelley vs. RHP Caleb Walston
- Sunday: LHP Beau Healy vs. TBA
Batting Practice
- Mercer is 13-3 with nine straight victories on opening day with Craig Gibson at the helm.
- This is the seventh straight season and 10th overall under Gibson that Mercer has started the season on its home turf.
- Nine of Mercer's 13 games in February will be played at home.
- Mercer is 3-0 all-time against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The first meeting between these two schools was Feb. 17, 2017 when they opened the season.
- Maryland-Eastern Shore is one of two MEAC programs Mercer will face this season (Florida A&M).
- Mercer is one of just four NCAA Division I programs to win at least 35 games in each of the past 10 seasons, joining LSU, Florida State and Vanderbilt.
- Since the start of the 2014 season, Mercer is 117-61 at OrthoGeorgia Park. The most wins at home during that stretch was 24 in 2014.
- The Bears were picked to finish third in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mercer tallied one first place vote and 51 points.
- Le Bassett was the only Bear to earn First Team Preseason All-SoCon honors. He earned his spot as a DH. Angelo DiSpigna, RJ Yeager and Collin Price were named to the second team.
- Series:Â Mercer leads, 3-0
- First Meeting: Feb. 17, 2017, W 13-2
- Last Meeting: Feb. 19, 2017, W 8-4
- Streak: Mercer, W3
The Hawks were picked eighth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) this season, garnering 26 points including one first place vote in the preseason poll. Maryland-Eastern Shore owned a 10-44 overall record (4-20 MEAC) last season.
Â
Leading the Hawks at the plate is Brian Cordell. Last season as a sophomore, Cordell led the team with a .278 batting average and finished second on the team driving in 21 runs. He was 10-for-11 on stolen bases. As a team, the Hawks hit .236 and had an on-base percentage of .319.
Â
On the mound, Maryland-Eastern Shore returns Marty Tolson, Dwayne Marshall and Caleb Walston, all who pitched the most innings for the team last year. Tolson was 0-8 on the season with an ERA of 4.64, while Marshall was 3-5 with a 6.38 ERA in 12 starts. Walston made 18 appearances making nine starts, had a 1-6 record with a 9.79 ERA.
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.
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Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
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