MACON, Ga. - Tanner Hall and Beau Healy both return to the mound as Mercer gets the upper hand against Eastern Kentucky, 6-5, at OrthoGeorgia Park Sunday afternoon to earn the series sweep! Le Bassett hit a game winning home run over the right field fence in the eighth inning to give the Bears a 6-5 final.
The sweep moves Mercer to an overall record of 3-0 and Eastern Kentucky drops to 0-3 on the early season.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Tanner Hall made his first start in over a season after coming back from a season ending surgery in 2021 and dominated in the three innings he pitched. Hall threw three 1-2-3 innings and struck out three batters.Â
The Bears offense started off early in the first inning after Angelo DiSpigna drew a walk and Collin Price singled. Following Price's single, Bassett ripped a double to score DiSpigna and move Price to third. The next batter Trevor Austin singled to score Price and Bassett to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bears after the first.
Mercer scores two more runs in the fifth off solo home runs by Colby Thomas and Price to give the Bears a 5-0 lead.Â
Eastern Kentucky offense started clicking in the top half of the sixth inning when the Bears gave up five runs on five hits. Eastern Kentucky's Kendal Ewell cleared the bases with a homerun after the first two Colonels faced in the inning singled.  Following two ground outs to the shortstop, Eastern Kentucky outfielder Max Williams would hit a two-run homerun following a single by the Colonels to tie the game at 5-5.Â
After Eastern Kentucky tied the game, Mercer put in Jackson Kelley to get the last out in the sixth inning. Jackson Kelley would throw through the eighth inning and record the win for the Bears.Â
In the bottom of the eighth, Mercer and Eastern Kentucky were tied 5-5 until one swing of the bat by Bassett hit the game winning homerun.Â
In the top of ninth, the Bears went to their reliever Luke Sutko to get the final three outs. Two of final three came from a 4-3 double play by DiSpinia and Trevor Austin to secure the Bears' victory.Â
COACH GIBSON'S THOUGHTS:
PITCHERS RECORD:
Win:Â Jackson Kelley: (1-0)Â
Loss:Â Will Brian (0-1)Â
Save:Â Luke Sutko (1)Â
HIGHTLIGHTS:
- BASSETT'S BOMB
- PRICE'S DINGER
- KNIGHT'S DIVING CATCH
UP NEXT:
Mercer: vs. Florida A&M (6 p.m. Tuesday, February 22 at OrthoGeorgia ParkÂ
How to Follow the Bears:Â
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