Pitching Leads Bears Past Jackson State

Saturday, February 20

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

1-0

Jackson State

0-1

Jackson State

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

2/20/2021 10:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Mercer pitching staff recorded 24 strikeouts in the doubleheader

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer Bears baseball team opened the season with a doubleheader sweep of Jackson State on Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park. Mercer took game one, 9-0, and won game two, 10-0.

The Mercer pitching staff tallied 24 strikeouts in the doubleheader. Taylor Lobus recorded 11 of those strikeouts in seven innings as the game two starter to set a new career high. The Bears limited the Tigers to six hits in the doubleheader.

Game One
Pitching was the name of the game to start the season as neither team could get anything going and the game remained scoreless early. Jackson Kelley was dominant early, tallying five strikeouts through four innings.

The Bears scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Le Bassett doubled to center field with one away. It looked as if Bassett would be stranded on second, but Angelo DiSpigna roped a two-out double to left field to score Bassett and put the Bears ahead, 1-0.

Mercer scored its second run in the bottom of the sixth when Bassett hit his second double of the day to score Brandon Michie.

Opening game starter Jackson Kelley spent 6.2 innings on the mound and allowed one hit while stricking out eight.

The Orange & Black broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning with three runs on three hits. Trevor Austin got the scoring started with a sac fly and two batters later, Michie hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to right center, giving the Bears a 5-0 advantage after seven complete. In the following inning, the Bears scored four runs to take a 9-0 lead. Colby Thomas had the big hit in the inning, scoring three on a double.

Will Bowdoin pitched the top of the ninth and remained strong in the circle after a pair of Tigers reached based. A double play and strikeout ended the game and helped Mercer claim the win in the first game of the season.

Bassett led the Bears in the season opener, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with three RBI. Michie recorded a pair of hits in five at-bats and batted in a pair while scoring two runs of his own. Thomas led the team with three RBI thanks to bases clearing double in the bottom of the eighth.

Kelley spent 6.2 innings on the hill and earned the win. Jackson State's Nikelle Galatas also went 6.2 innings sans the results of Kelley. Galatas struck out six batters but allowed nine hits and five runs, all earned.

Game Two
The Bears struck early in game two with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Thomas led off with a double down the left field line, and after a fly out, RJ Yeager tripled to right field which brought Thomas home. Bassett was hit by a pitch, and the following batter, Bill Knight, produced a bunt single to score Yeager. DiSpigna was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Jackson State got the final two outs to get out of the inning.

Despite two runs in the opening inning, the Bears did not score until the top of the seventh frame. With a runner on base and two outs, Knight his impressive showing, belting an opposite field home run to increase the Orange & Black's advantage to 4-0.

Garett Delano made his debut on the hill in the top of the eighth inning and recorded a pair of strike outs and a fly out to set the Tigers down in order. Mercer's bats once again came to life in the bottom of the frame as it scored six runs on five hits. A quarter of players – Austin, Thomas, Michie and DiSpigna – all had an RBI in the inning with DiSpigna's two-RBI double giving the Bears a 10-0 lead.

Garrett Sloan also made his debut in the game, pitching the final frame for the Bears. Sloan induced two groundouts to shortstop and a fly out to right field, retiring the side in order and helping Mercer come away with a 10-0 win in final game of the afternoon.

Knight led all Mercer hitters with three hits in four plate appearances. He knocked in three runs – one off a bunt single and a pair when he sent the ball over the fence in right field. Trevor Austin also had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-4 for an RBI.

Taylor Lobus picked up the win in the second game. He allowed four hits in seven innings of work. He fanned 11 of 24 batters he faced and did not allow a free pass during his time on the hill. Delano and Sloan each tossed an inning in relief. The Tigers' Anthony Becerra lasted six innings and received the loss. He surrendered five hits and allowed two runs. Becerra struck out eight and walked a pair.

Coach Gibson's Take
"This was a great opening day series for us against a quality opponent. I could not be more proud of the team. Our starting pitching set the tone in the contest. Jackson [Kelley] was outstanding in game one, and [Taylor] Lobus was excellent in the second game. The pitching staff pitched well, and we had tremendous play defense backing up our arms. Jackson State has a great pitching staff, and we produced several quality at-bats. Our lineup is from top to bottom and anyone can hit the ball out of the park."

Records Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Jackson State: 0-2

Pitchers of Record
Game 1
» Win: Jackson Kelley (1-0)
» Loss: Nikelle Galatas (0-1)

Game 2
» Win: Taylor Lobus (1-0)
» Loss: Anthony Becerra (0-1)

Notables
» Mercer improved to 2-0 against Jackson State. Saturday was the first meetings between the two programs.
» With Coach Craig Gibson leading the team, the Bears improved to 15-3 in season openers.
» Game two starter Taylor Lobus set a career-high with 11 strikeouts in the contest.
» Mercer outscored Jackson State 19-0 during the doubleheader. Mercer scored nine runs in game one and 10 in game two.
» Mercer had 13 extra base hits in the game. Bassett led the way with three doubles and also scored a run in the two victories.
» Michie and Knight each hit one home run in the doubleheader. Michie's came in the first game, while Knight hit a two-run shot in the final game.

Up Next
» Mercer: Hosts Jackson State (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Jackson State: At Mercer (1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 at OrthoGeorgia Park)

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