Delano Leads Bears Past Terriers

Friday, March 26

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

12-9, 0

Wofford

13-8, 0

Wofford

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

3/27/2021 1:44:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Mercer runs winning streak to seven straight

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – Garett Delano had an outstanding pitching performance and he helped himself at the plate, leading the Mercer Baseball team past Wofford, 6-4, on Friday night in Southern Conference action.

Delano carried a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning and went 7.1 innings on the night with six strikeouts. He helped himself out at the plate by hitting a two-run home run in the first and picking up a third RBI later in the game. Bill Knight led the team with three hits.

After a three up and three down top of the first, Mercer came up and Bill Knight led off with a single. After the next two hitters were retired, Delano came up and helped himself out. He took a 2-0 pitch and hit a home run to left-center putting the Bears ahead. 2-0.

The 2-0 lead continued to hold and Delano continued to look sharp on the mound. In the top of the third inning, he struck out the side on 12 pitches. Wofford's first base runner reached in the fourth inning on a walk. With two outs and a runner on second, the Terriers tried to score on a Bears error but Trey Yunger was thrown out at the plate.

Mercer stretched the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. David Burke reached on an error and ended up on second base after the play. Trevor Austin moved him to third with a sac bunt. Knight followed with a sac fly to center field putting Mercer ahead 3-0.

The Terriers picked up their first hit in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Shane Lussier singled to left field. However, Delano got a six-four-three double play to end the inning.

The game remained 3-0 in favor of the Bears until the top of the eighth inning. Wofford's first two hitters reached on a hit by a pitch and a walk. They moved to second and third after a wild pitch. The Terriers scored on an RBI groundout by Ryan Galanie. After a pitching change, which brought Luke Sutko in, Lussier drew a walk putting runners on the corners. Lawson Hill followed with a ground out and the Bears lead was down to one, 3-2. Sutko got Yunger to fly out to end the inning.

Mercer extended its lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and Knight standing on second, Delano singled to center field that scored Knight. Brandon Michie followed with a single putting runners on first and third. Colby Thomas then hit a double down the left-field line scoring two putting Mercer ahead 6-2.

Needing three outs to record the win, Sutko got Colin Davis to line out on the first pitch of the top of the ninth. After a single, Sutko got Jack Renwick to strikeout. Down to the final out, Wofford took advantage of a walk and a Bears error to score a run. Galanie singled on the next batter scoring a second run trimming Mercer's lead down to 6-4. With the tying run at first, Sutko struck out Matty Brown to end the game. The win for Mercer was its seventh straight.

Coach Gibson's Take
"This game starts with No. 7 (Garett Delano). He was outstanding on the mound and at the plate. He got us out ahead early with the two-run home run and then he shut down a good offensive club. I can't say enough about Bill Knight in the leadoff position and Colby Thomas came up with a big hit at the end. It's good to get off to a good start and we will be ready for the doubleheader on Saturday."

Records Update
» Mercer: 12-9, 1-0 SoCon
» Wofford: 13-8, 2-2 SoCon

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Garett Delano (2-0)
» Loss: Hayes Heinecke (2-4)
» Save: Luke Sutko (3)

Notables
» Garett Delano hit a home run in his second straight Friday night game. Both home runs came in the first inning.
» Bill Knight collected fourth three-hit game of the season on Friday night. He was 3-for-3 on the night.
» Mercer pitching limited the Terriers to only four hits in the game. Delano and Luke Sutko each allowed two hits.
» Mercer had three extra-base hits on the day. Delano had a home run, Knight hit a double and Colby Thomas picked up a double in the game.
» Delano led the team with three RBI in the game, while Thomas followed with two.

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. Wofford ((DH) 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Wofford: at Mercer ((DH) 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at OrthoGeorgia Park)

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