Bears Drop Series Opener in Tampa

Friday, March 18

Tampa, FL

6:30 P.M.

Mercer University

15-3

University of South Florida

12-6

Mercer

South Florida

3/18/2022 9:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

USF takes first game of weekend series, 10-2.

By: Will Vaught

TAMPA, Fla. – USF recorded 10 hits, including a pair of home runs, en route to a 10-2 victory over Mercer in the series opener Friday at USF Baseball Stadium.

The Bulls (12-6) trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but scored five times to take control of the contest.

Daniel Cantu's go-ahead two-run single in the frame put USF in front for good. The Bulls add three more runs in the innings, including a two-run homer off the bat of Drew Brutcher, to take a 5-1 lead.

The Bears (15-3) plated their final run in the fifth, as Treyson Hughes scored on Bill Knight's sacrifice fly.

USF tacked one four more tallies in the bottom of the stanza. The Bulls used three consecutive extra-base hits to fuel the big inning, and take a 9-2 advantage.

Jackson Mayo added a solo homer in the seventh for the Bulls to cap the scoring. Mayo would go on to finish 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and three runs scored to pace the hosts.

Mercer was limited to only four hits on the night, but stranded nine on the basepaths. Antonio Brown was 2 for 3 with a double. Knight had a hit and an RBI. He also scored a run in the first on a wild pitch.

Mercer Highlights:

Check out the ❄️ water in the veins of @JoshHarlow10 with the clutch K to end the inning pic.twitter.com/lqocuJVvTA
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) March 18, 2022

Records Update: » Mercer: 15-3 » GS: USF 12-6 Pitchers of Record: » Loss: Josh Harlow (3-1) suffered his first loss on the mound this season for the Bears, as the right-hander yielded four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings. He also struck out five and walked two. » Win: Orion Kerkering (3-1) scattered four hits, two runs (one earned) and fanned seven in six frames of work to receive the victory. Up Next: » The set continues Saturday at 2 p.m. 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.