Mercer Falls to West Virginia, 6-0, in Friday Evening Contest

Friday, March 6

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

11-2

West Virginia

9-4

West Virginia

Mercer

Photo by: Ben Murray

Mercer Falls to West Virginia, 6-0, in Friday Evening Contest

3/6/2020 10:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score @MercerBaseball

The Bears dropped their first game inside OrthoGeorgia Park in 2020

By: Kraig Doremus

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears suffered their first defeat inside OrthoGeorgia Park on Friday night, falling to the West Virginia Mountaineers, 6-0.

West Virginia (9-4) got on the board with two runs in the top of the first. The Mountaineers scored on a ground out and a fielding error to take the early lead.

Mercer's bats were quiet until the top of the third when Trevor Austin singled through the left side of the infield to start the frame. Austin was the second out of the inning when Colby Thomas reached on a fielder's choice. Angelo DiSpigna picked up the Bears' second base knock of the frame. He sent a ball through the left right of the infield to give Mercer a pair of runners, but a fly out ended the inning.

Tanner Hall induced a one-two-three inning in the top of the fourth, and Mercer started off its half of the inning with a bang as Brandon Michie doubled to left center field to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Michie would move to third on a groundout but was left 90 feet from home plate.

An RBI double in the top of the fifth gave West Virginia a three-run lead, and Mercer was unable to capitalize on a two-out single by DiSpigna in the bottom of the fifth.

Starter Tanner Hall's day was done after 5.0 innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and fanned eight batters while walking just one. five pitchers – Tommy Green, Holton McGaha, Joe Molettiere, Fred Wilson and Josh Farmer – all saw time in relief.

Green gave up only a single in the top of the sixth, but the Bears went down quietly in the bottom of the inning.

Mercer (11-2) was able to hold West Virginia scoreless in the seventh but left Austin stranded on second in its half of the frame.

The Mountaineers used a solo home run and RBI single to left to plate two runs and take a 5-0 lead after the top of the eighth. West Virginia scored its sixth and final run in the top of the following inning.

Mercer failed to rally as it was retired in order in each of the last two innings.

Jackson Wolfe earned the win for the Mountaineers. He lasted 6.1 innings and allowed no runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked one. Hall took the loss for Mercer.

At the plate, DiSpigna and Austin were the only Bears to record two hits. West Virginia's Victor Scott was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the visitors.

Coach Gibson's Take
"West Virginia outplayed us tonight. They were better in game one. They're a good ball club, and we just have to tip our caps to them. We'll move forward and prepare for game two of the series tomorrow."

Players of the Game
DiSpigna and Austin went a combined 4-for-7 and accounted for all but one of Mercer's hits in the loss.

Records Update
» Mercer: 11-2
» West Virginia: 9-4

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jackson Wolfe (3-1)
» Loss: Tanner Hall (3-1)

Notables
» The Bears suffered their first loss inside OrthoGeorgia Park and back-to-back losses for the first time in 2020.
» Hall fanned eight Mountaineers tonight, making it the fourth time in five appearances he has struck out at least eight batters.
» DiSpigna recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
» DiSpigna's six games with two or more hits place him second on the team. He trails only Colby Thomas who has seven.
» Michie went 1-for-4 tonight and has record a hit in all 13 games this season.

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. West Virginia (2 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» West Virginia: At Mercer (2 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at OrthoGeorgia Park)

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