Bears Drop Pitchers’ Duel on Sunday

Sunday, March 7

Columbia, S.C.

12 p.m.

Mercer University

3-7

South Carolina

10-0

Mercer

South Carolina

Photo by: Katie Dugan, South Carolina

3/7/2021 4:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Mercer dropped the series finale 1-0 to No. 14 South Carolina

By: Travis Rae

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Mercer baseball team dropped its series finale, 1-0, to No. 14 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. The Bears and Gamecocks were locked in a pitchers' duel as both teams combined for just six hits in the game.

Mercer starter Jackson Kelley dominated during his 7.1 innings on the hill and limited South Carolina one run on four hits and striking out five. The 7.1 innings pitched is a season-high for Kelley. Trevor Austin and RJ Yeager picked up the lone hits for the Bears.

The Bears had the best chance to score in the top of the third inning. Austin was hit by a pitch putting a runner on with one out, however, he was thrown out trying to steal second. Colby Thomas followed with a walk and proceed to steal second base. With two outs, Mercer had a runner in scoring position but left him stranded.

Kelley continued to deal and in the third inning, he retired the first two batters before allowing a single to Josiah Sightler. Sightler followed by stealing second base to put a runner on for Wes Clarke. Kelley settled back in and struck out Clark, effectively ending the inning.

South Carolina scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk to David Mendham, he advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. A walk to Andrew Eyster put two on with no out, and South Carolina advanced the runners with a sac bunt. Joe Satterfield RBI ground out to second base scored the lone run of the game.

The Gamecocks tried to get something going off Kelley in the bottom of the fifth, but were unsuccessful. George Callil singled on a bunt single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With a runner in scoring position, Kelley dialed it up and struck the next two hitters out to end the frame.

With one out, Eyster was hit by a pitch to get the Gamecocks going in the bottom of the sixth. Braylen Wimmer singled up the middle, moving Eyster up 90 feet. Satterfield followed with a single and Eyster tried to score on the play, but Bill Knight had other ideas. Knight unleased an impressive throw from the outfield to throw Eyster out at the plate.

Mercer was still looking for its first hit of the day in the eighth inning. With two outs, Austin hit a single to right field breaking up the no-hitter. The Bears tallied one more hit by Yeager in the ninth inning but could not get anything going in the 1-0 loss.

Coach Gibson's Take
"This was a great ball game, and I am really proud of the way Jackson [Kelley] pitched. He came out today and dominated a great club for eight innings. I can't say enough about our pitching staff. David Moore and Luke Sutko came in and did their job today. Offensively, the last seven games have not been up to our standard. We have to find ourselves offensively and get this club going."

Records Update
» Mercer: 3-7
» South Carolina: 10-0

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Julian Bosnic (1-0)
» Loss: Jackson Kelley (1-1)
» Save: Brett Kerry (1)

Notables
» Jackson Kelley came out dealing for the Bears as he went 7.1 innings and only allowed four hits to Souh Carolina.
» Mercer struggled offensively in the contest as they could only muster two hits. RJ Yeager and Trevor Austin picked up the hits for Mercer.
» The Bears' bats were held quiet in the series finale against South Carolina as the Gamecocks tallied 16 strikeouts in the game.
» In the contest, Mercer pitching tallied six strikeouts; five by Kelley and one by Sukto.
» Mercer battled at the plate and drew four walks in the contest. Thomas drew two walks to lead the Bears.

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. Florida A&M (6 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» South Carolina: at The Citadel (6 p.m. Wednesday, March 10 at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park)

Follow the Bears
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