Big Day for Thomas Leads Mercer Past Radford

Friday, February 21

Macon, Ga.

4 p.m.

Mercer University

6-0

Radford

3-2

Radford

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

2/21/2020 9:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Freshman Colby Thomas drove home six of the Bears nine runs

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Colby Thomas drove in six runs as Mercer baseball extended its winning streak to six games after a 9-2 victory over Radford in game one of the series on Friday afternoon at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Radford struck first as they scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after a Bears error. The next hitter increased the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single to left field.

The game remained 2-0 in favor of Radford until the bottom of the second inning. With a runner on third and two outs, Angelo DiSpigna doubled to left field to score one. Junior RJ Yeager gave the Bears their first lead of the night after he hit a two-run home run. The home run was the 15th of his career. After three innings of play, Mercer led 3-2.

After allowing two runs over the first two innings, Tanner Hall settled down and allowed only one hit for the remainder of his outing. In the seventh inning, Hall struck out the first two batters of the inning before allowing a hit. Following the hit, he locked in and got another K to end the inning.

Mercer grew the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and two runners on, Thomas hit a ball down the left field line. The Highlander left fielder tried for a diving catch but could not make the grab and Mercer extended its lead to 5-2.

Luke Sutko came into the game in relief of Hall and was dealing. After he got a pop out to open the eighth, he got the next two hitters to strike out looking to end the frame.

Mercer increased its lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and two on, Dockus was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Thomas, the Valdosta native, came up and hit his second career home run to center field for a grand slam.

Sutko did not let the Highlanders get anything going in the ninth inning and Mercer extended its win streak to six games with a 9-2 win.

Coach Gibson's Take
"I was pleased with Tanner Hall tonight. He struggled early as he hit the first batter of the game, but he settled in and came out and gave us a great quality start at home against a really good club. Offensively we strung some good at-bats together and it was capped off by a home run by Colby Thomas. I am excited we got game one and looking forward to game two."

Player of the Game
Freshman Colby Thomas led the Bears at the plate on Friday. He drove in six of the nine runs for the Bears with two extra base hits. In the fourth inning, Thomas doubled to extend the lead to 5-2. He added four more RBI in the bottom of the eighth with a grand slam.

Records Update
» Mercer: 6-0
» Radford: 3-2

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Tanner Hall (2-0)
» Loss: Ryan Sande (0-1)
» Save: Luke Sutko (1)

Notables
» Mercer improves to 4-0 all-time against Radford.
» Freshman Colby Thomas went 2-for-5 on the night with six RBI. Each of Thomas' hits were extra base hits including a grand slam in the eighth.
» Tanner Hall picked up his second win of the season. He went seven innings and struck out eight. He now has 17 strikeouts on the season.
» Mercer scored seven or more runs in four of the first six games this season. Over the last three games, the Bears are averaging 7.6 runs per game.
» The Bears combined for eight hits in the contest against the Highlanders. Six of the eight hits were extra base hits. Mercer hit four doubles and two home runs.
» Mercer struck out 11 hitters on the night, eight by Hall and three by Luke Sutko. Mercer pitching has recorded 72 strikeouts on the season.
» Luke Sutko picked up his first save of his Mercer career. Sutko pitched two innings of relief to close out the game.

Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Radford (2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Radford: At Mercer (2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at OrthoGeorgia Park)

Follow the Bears
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