Bears Comeback to Win Game Two; Earn Doubleheader Split

Saturday, May 1

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m. (G1)

Mercer University

25-17, 11-6

ETSU

19-19, 9-10

ETSU

Mercer

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

Bears Comeback to Win Game Two; Earn Doubleheader Split

5/1/2021 10:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Mercer scored eight unanswered runs to earn the win in game two

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – After dropping game one, the Mercer baseball team scored eight unanswered runs in game two to earn a doubleheader split on Saturday. Mercer dropped game one, 7-6, before winning game two, 8-4.

Game 1
After a scoreless first inning, ETSU scored the first run of the game in the second inning. With runners on the corners, David Beam scored on a wild pitch, putting the Bucs ahead 1-0. The lead grew to 3-0 the next inning when Ethan Cady and Noah Webb hit solo home runs.

The Bears battled and in the bottom of the frame got their first run of the game. With two outs and a runner on second, Garett Delano doubled down the left field line scoring one, and Mercer trailed, 3-1, after three innings of play.

After a three up and three down top of the fourth, Mercer came back and took the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Brandon Michie was hit by a pitch, and Colby Thomas reached on a bunt single, putting two runners on. Following the first out of the inning, Angelo DiSpigna roped a three-run bomb to right field, giving Mercer a 4-3 advantage.

The lead stayed 4-3 in favor of the Bears until the seventh inning. Mercer grew its lead to two, 5-3, in the frame. Bill Knight was hit by a pitch and went to second on a sac bunt by RJ Yeager. After a wild pitch moved Knight to third, he came into score on a Delano ground out.

After holding the Bucs scoreless for innings, ETSU broke through for another run. Jackson Green crushed the Bucs third home run of the game to right field, cutting the Bears lead in half, 5-4.

Mercer took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning and needed three outs to end the game. Ashton King and Cady had back-to-back singles, putting two on with no outs. Bryce Hodges stepped into the box and worked his count to 2-1 before hitting a three run home run to right field to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.

The Orange & Black did not go away quietly. With one out, pinch hitter Jackson Cherry doubled to left field. Knight followed with a single up the middle, putting runners on the corners. The Bears got their sixth run of the game with a sac fly. With two outs, Delano picked up his third hit of the contest with a single up the middle, putting two runners on. However, they would be stranded on base as Mercer dropped game one, 7-6.

Game Two
ETSU came out and scored the first runs of the second contest. After two scoreless innings, ETSU's King, Cady and Hodge had back-to-back-to-back hits that was capped by a ground rule double by Hodge. Webb followed with a sac fly, and the Bucs led 2-0.

Nathanial Tate kept the Bears off balance to start game two as he did not allow a hit through the first three innings. Only one Mercer baserunner reached base, Trevor Austin, when he drew a walk. The no-hitter continued into the bottom of the fourth inning as Tate retired the first two Bear hitters. Delano stepped in and broke the no-no up with a single to center field, but he was left stranded on base.

The bats got hot for ETSU in the top of the fifth. With one out, Hodge singled up the middle and scored on a double by Webb. He scored on a Sean Kearney single, and the Bucs led 4-0.

Tate continued to keep the Bears off balance in the fifth inning as only one runner reached, Thomas when he was hit by a pitch. Mercer was trying to break onto the scoreboard in the sixth. With two outs, Michie was hit by a pitch, Delano was walked on four straight pitches and DiSpigna was hit by a pitch. However, they would be left stranded on base.

ETSU tried to extend the lead in the top of the seventh inning, as they had two runners on with two outs. Following a double steal, the Bucs had two runners in scoring position by Zach Turner got Jake Lyle to ground out to end the frame.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, Mercer only had one hit in the game. That all changed in the seventh. Le Bassett doubled to open the inning. With one out, Austin struck out but reached on a wild pitch and Bassett went to third. The very next pitch, Bill Knight lined a ball over the right field fence, putting Mercer down one, 4-3.

The bats stayed hot in the bottom of the eighth inning for Mercer. With one out, Bassett struck out and reached on a wild pitch and went to second on a throwing error by the catcher. Antonio Brown came into run for Bassett and went to third on a wild pitch. With the infield in, Collin Price singled up the middle scoring Brown and tying the game.

Austin followed with a single to right field and Price moved to third but on the play, Price slipped rounding third and was thrown out at the plate. With two outs and the game tied, Knight and Yeager drew back-to-back walks, which loaded the bases. Michie followed with a single that scored two, putting Mercer ahead 6-4. The Bears were not done as Delano singled home two more runs, and Mercer took an 8-4 lead into the ninth.

Robert Bennett, who entered in the eighth came out for the ninth, got the first batter to fly out before issuing a walk. Luke Sukto came in and got a strike out before allowing a single up the middle. With two outs and two on, Sutko got pinch hitter Kyle Richardson to fly out to end the game and Mercer took game two, 8-4.

Hear from Coach Gibson

.@CraigGibson_MU talks about the doubleheader split with ETSU on Saturday #WinnersWin | #RoarTogether pic.twitter.com/cUrV12ox6k
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) May 2, 2021

Records Update
» Mercer: 26-17, 12-6 SoCon
» ETSU: 19-20, 9-11 SoCon

Pitchers of Record
(Game 1)
» Win: Zach Kirby (2-1)
» Loss: Luke Sutko (3-4)
» Save: Matthew Bollenbacher (5)

(Game 2)
» Win: Robert Bennett (3-0)
» Loss: Seth Chavez (0-2)

Notables
» Mercer scored eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win game two of the doubleheader. They trailed 4-0 entering the bottom of the seventh.
» Robert Bennett picked up his third win of the season in game two when he pitched an inning in relief.
» With the game two series win, Mercer won the series over ETSU.
» Garett Delano continues to hit for the Bears. He picked up three hits in each game of the doubleheader. He raised his average to a team-high .346.
» Bill Knight hit his eighth home run of the season in the second game. The home run sparked the Bears comeback in game two.
» Mercer's bullpen combined for 4.1 innings of two hit ball to earn the game two victory.
» The Bears had three doubles and two home runs on the day.

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. Kennesaw State (6 p.m., Wednesday, May 5 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» ETSU: vs. UNCG (5 p.m., Friday, May 7 at Thomas 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.