Setting the Tone for USF

TAMPA, Fla. – After a season-opening 17-game homestand, Mercer will take the road for the first time in 2022, heading down to 75 to face USF.

The Bears (15-2) will look to brush themselves off after an 8-3 setback to in-state foe, Georgia Southern, in a midweek contest on Wednesday night. Treyson Hughes went 2-for-3, which included a solo shot.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Teams: Mercer (15-2) at USF (11-6)
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Friday: March 18 | 6:30 p.m.| ESPN+ | Stats
Saturday: March 19 | 2 p.m. | ESPN+ | Stats
Sunday: March 20 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ | Stats

Projected Starters
            • Friday: Josh Harlow vs. Kerkering
            • Saturday: Tanner Hall vs. TBD
            • Sunday: TBD vs. TBD

Batting Practice
• The Bears have won every series this season
• Mercer is second in the nation in homers with 38, just eight behind Tennessee, who has 46
• The Bears are third in Division I slugging 2.24 home runs per game
• Treyson Hughes' .471 batting averages places him 12^th nationally and atop the SoCon, and the freshman has batted in 18 runs in 16 games
• Colby Thomas' seven longballs ranks 20^th in the country, Collin Price's six are 34^th in DI
• Josh Harlow has fanned 32 batters this season, ranking him 41^st in the country
• Thomas and Bill Knight rank 24^th in the country and lead the league with eight two-baggers apiece
• Mercer ranks in the top 15 nationally in the following categories:
            • Bases-on-balls (third, 123)
            • Home runs (second, 38)
• Home runs per game (third, 2.24)
            • WHIP (fifth, 0.99)
            • Strikeout-to-walk ratio (sixth, 4.17)
• Walks allowed per nine innings (13^th, 2.86)
            • Slugging percentage (fifth, 0.57)

Series History
Mercer and USF will meet for their second series and first since 2010. The Bulls hold the 2-1 advantage over the Bears.

            • Series: USF, 2-1
            • First Meeting: Mercer, 2-1
            • Last Meeting: USF, 13-4
            • Streak: USF, W2

Scouting USF
The Bulls enter the series with an 11-6 mark, including a 10-5 record at the USF Baseball Stadium and have won five of their last seven overall. Carmine Lane leads the Bulls with a .394 batting average in 71 plate appearances and has driven in 23 runs through all 17 contests. Drew Brutcher paces USF with six longballs.

Orion Kerkering, a righty, leads the Bulls with 36 punchouts and has only yielded 18 hits in 22.0 frames tossed.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Hall

Josh Harlow

Treyson Hughes

Bill Knight

Collin Price

Colby Thomas

Footer

Mercer University Athletics