Mercer Downs Georgia State, 5-1

Tuesday, April 6

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

17-11

Georgia State

7-23

Georgia State

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

4/6/2021 10:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Bears improved to 2-0 on the season against Georgia State

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team stretched its winning streak to four games after defeating Georgia State, 5-1, in a Peach State showdown on Tuesday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Six different Bears picked up a hit in the game. Angelo DiSpigna led the team with two RBI in the win. Taylor Lobus came out of the pen to pick up the win, throwing 3.1 innings and striking out six batters.

It looked as if the Panthers would jump on the Bears' starter in the first inning as they led off the game with back-to-back hits. Jackson Kelley settled in and got Elian Merejo to strike out. Following the strikeout, Collin Price threw out Kyle Riesselmann trying to steal third base, and Kelley closed out the inning getting by Will Mize to strike out swinging.

Mercer scored one run in the bottom of the first inning. Bill Knight drew a walk to lead off the game and went to second on RJ Yeager's single. With one out, Garett Delano picked up an RBI single, scoring Knight and putting the Bears ahead, 1-0.

The lead grew to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Colby Thomas led off the inning by drawing a walk and went to third on a Jackson Cherry single. Trevor Austin laid down the bunt that advanced Cherry to second and scored Thomas, extending the lead to 2-0.

Kelley was locked in in the top of the third and retired the Panthers in order. He continued to keep the Panthers off balance in the fourth inning. Only one runner reached base on a hit by pitch. In the top of the fifth, Kelley allowed two to reach base after retiring the leadoff hitter. He then got Lavoiser Fischer to ground out for the second out. Following the groundout, Lobus relieved Kelley and got a punch out to end the inning.

Georgia State cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning. Griffin Cheney walked to lead off the inning. Lobus followed by striking out Merejo. However, Mize followed with a hit that put two on. After a wild pitch, Cheney and Mize moved into scoring position. Josh Smith followed by hitting a sac fly to right field that scored one. Lobus ended the frame by striking out Dalton Pearson.

Following the second run scored by Mercer, the Orange & Black's bats picked up one hit over the next four innings. Mercer extended its lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, taking advantage of Georgia State's pitching woes. Knight drew a walk and wmoved to second on a sac bunt. Brandon Michie followed and was hit by a pitch. After the second out of the inning, Price drew a walk that loaded the bases. Knight came into score on a wild pitch, and the runners went to second and third. DiSpigna picked up the lone hit of the frame with a single to left field that scored two, growing the lead to 5-1.

Lobus tossed a one-two-three inning in the eighth, and Luke Sutko came in to close out the game in the ninth. Sutko hit the first batter he faced before settling down and retiring the next three in a row to end the contest.. After a fielder's choice, he got a strikeout and a flyout to end the game.

Coach Gibson's Take

Hear what head coach @CraigGibson_MU had to say following the win over Georgia State. #WinnersWin | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/cMuf5eD4dj
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 7, 2021

Records Update
» Mercer: 17-11
» Georgia State: 7-23

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Taylor Lobus (5-2)
» Loss: Dylan Matela (0-5)

Notables
» Price and Knight each hit a double in the win over Georgia State. Mercer now has 55 doubles on the season.
» The Bears recorded nine strikeouts on the day. Taylor Lobus led the way with six Ks.
» The Orange & Black had six different players record a hit.
» Mercer drew seven walks on the night.
» DiSpigna led the team with two RBI. He picked up both in the seventh inning.
» DiSpigna recorded his second stolen base of the season in the win.

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. UNCG (6 p.m. Friday, April 9 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» Georgia State: at Appalachian State (5 p.m. Friday, April 9 at Smith 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.