Longballs Lift Mercer over SIUE

Saturday, February 26

Macon, Ga.

2 P.M.

Mercer University

7-0

SIUE

1-4

SIUE

Mercer

2/26/2022 6:51:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Four homers prove to be the difference for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – Mercer hit four home runs against the Cougars to beat SIUE 10-6 on Saturday afternoon at OrthoGeorgia Park. Le Bassett's longball in the bottom of the 8^th to tie the game sparked a six-run rally to beat the Cougars.

SIUE started the first inning with back-to-back solo shots from their leadoff and second-hole hitter in the lineup. After a single by SIUE's third batter, Mercer's starting pitcher Fred Wilson was able strike out and fly out the next two batters. The Cougars would strike again with a single from Matthew Klein to bring in two more Cougars. Mercer's Avery Stephens would go to the mound to get the final out of the opening frame.

After a 1-2-3 inning by the Bears, the Cougars would strike again in the top of the second to make the score 5-0 when SIUE's Connor Kiffer doubled to left to score Josh Ohl who singled earlier in the inning.

The Bears would get on the board in the third after Mercer's third baseman, David Burke, hit a solo homer to trim the Cougars' lead to 5-1.

In the next inning, Mercer's Colin Price would join Burke in the home run column and cut the SIUE lead to 5-2 after a solo homer over the left-center wall.

SIUE increased their lead, 6-2, in the top of the sixth after the Cougars center fielder, Brett Johnson hit his second solo home run of the game off Colton Cosper.

Cosper would be take the Bears through the 8^th inning and not let up another run.

Mercer's first baseman Angelo Dispigna cut SIUE's lead to 6-4 with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 7^th after William Mapes drew a walk from SIUE reliever.

With bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 8^th, the Cougars were trying build on their lead, but Mercer's pitcher Cosper struck out the batter swinging to end the inning.

Mercer rallied for 6 runs in the 8^th to take a 10-6 lead. It started off when Bassett hit a rocket over the right field fence to tie the game after Price lead off with a walk. The Cougars made a pitching change after their reliever let two Bears on base following two quick outs by SIUE. SIUE reliever Jake Bockenstedt would give up a 3-run homerun to Colby Thomas to give the Bears a 9-6 lead. Dispigna, the next batter, hit his second homerun of the game to give the Bear a 10-6.

The Bears reliever Luke Sutko came in the top of the 9^th to get the Cougars out in order and Mercer won 10-6.

Coach Gibson's Take

Great team win today.

We faced adversity early, but the Bears were able to pull out the 𝐖 with some quality ABs and excellent pitching! Hear more from @CraigGibson_MU #WinnersWin | #RoarTogether x #LightTheBridge pic.twitter.com/0Ao1wXE5Mb
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) February 26, 2022

Records Update
» Mercer: 7-0
» Bradley: 1-4

Pitchers of Record
» Win: Colton Cosper (1-0)
» Loss: Jake Bockenstedt (0-1)

Up Next
» Mercer: vs. SIUE (11 a.m. Sunday February 27 at OrthoGeorgia Park)
» SIUE: at Mercer ((11 a.m. Sunday February 27 at OrthoGeorgia Park)

Follow the Bears
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