Mercer Falls to Georgia Southern, 3-2

Wednesday, April 14

Statesboro, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

20-12

Georgia Southern

19-13

Mercer

Georgia Southern

Photo by: AJ Henderson

4/14/2021 10:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Bears seven-game winning streak snapped

By: Travis Rae

STATESBORO, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team saw its seven-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night in Statesboro. Mercer and Georgia Southern were locked in a battle and the Eagles scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Bears.

Mercer was limited to five hits on the game, with Collin Price leading the way with two. RJ Yeager hit his sixth home run of the season in the top of the first and now is the active leader at Mercer with 21 career bombs. Jackson Kelley got the start for the Bears and went 4.1 innings and tallied six punch outs.

After a leadoff out for Mercer, the RJ Yeager came out to the plate. Yeager came up to the plate and worked his count to 2-1. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Yeager hit a solo home run to centerfield putting the Bears ahead 1-0.

Over the first two innings, Bears starter Jackson Kelley was dealing. He did not allow a hit and hit tallied a strikeout looking. Georgia Southern picked up its first hit of the game in the bottom of the third inning, as they plated one run on three hits. Mason McWhorter picked up an RBI single in the inning.

It looked as if the Bears would take the lead in the top of the fourth after Le Bassett reached on an error and Collin Price doubled down the left-field line. However, Angelo DiSpigna singled to left on a soft fly ball and Bassett was thrown out at the plate. With two outs, Colby Thomas hit a long fly ball that was caught at the wall ending the inning.

After Kelley held the Eagles scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bears had a two-out rally in the top of the fifth. Yeager reached on a single and went to second on an Eagles error. Brandon Michie followed by a hit by pitch and Delano followed with a single to centerfield putting the Bears back on top 2-1.

The game was in favor of the Bears until the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and a runner on second, Christian Avant singled through the left side that scored the tying run. Avant stole second and Noah Ledford was intentionally walked. Luke Sutko came in and got the final out of the inning on a fly out to left field.

After the Bears could not get anything going in the top of the ninth, WcWhorter doubled with one out to put the winning run in scoring position. Avant followed with a single putting runners on the corners and the Bears intentionally walked Ledford. However, Mercer could not get out of the game and Austin Thompson hit a sac fly giving the Eagles a 3-2 win.

Hear from Coach Gibson

Coach @CraigGibson_MU talks about the tough loss to Georgia Southern#WinnersWin | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/BBHqut6XT2
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 15, 2021

Records Update
» Mercer: 20-12
» Georgia Southern: 19-13

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Nick Jones (1-0)
» Loss: Luke Sutko (2-2)

Notables
» RJ Yeager hit his sixth home run of the season in the top of the first inning. He now has 21 career home runs at Mercer, the most by an active player.
» Prior to the contest, Yeager was named to the Brooks Wallace Watch List. This award recognizes the top collegiate shortstop.
» Collin Price picked up a double for the Bears in the contest. This was the Bears 65 double of the season.
» The Orange & Black saw their seven-game winning streak snapped. They have now won 15 of the last 18 games.
» Jackson Kelley picked up six strikeouts in the contest. As a team Mercer had eight.
» Price led the team with two hits in the contest.

Up Next
» Mercer: at VMI (4 p.m. Friday, April 16 at Gray-Minor Stadium)
» Georgia Southern: at Coastal Carolina (6 p.m. Friday, April 16 at Springs Brooks Stadium)

Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.