Taking the Win in Tallahassee

Tuesday, April 12

Tallahassee, FL

5 p.m.

Mercer University

28-5

Florida A&M University

15-19

Mercer University

Florida A&M

4/12/2022 8:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Mercer completes season series sweep of FAMU with 4-3 win.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A pivotal fourth inning turned the tides in Mercer's midweek road win over FAMU to keep its nine-game winning streak alive. David Burke's solo shot to deep left gave the Bears (28-5, 3-0 SoCon) a 3-2 lead that the host Rattlers (15-19, 9-3 SWAC) in their half with a bases-loaded threat. A Trevor Austin solo shot in the sixth stretched the lead to 4-2, which sealed the result.

Avery Stephens (1-0) picked up the win after 1.2 innings of work in relief and allowed just two hits versus seven batters. The freshman fanned one and did not surrender any free bases. FAMU's Shawn Host was charged with the loss after allowing all four runs in 7.2 frames. The Bears collected six hits and took a pair of free bases.

Mercer got the offense going early when Colby Thomas led off with a double down the left field line on the very first pitch of the contest. A few batters later after a Collin Price walk, Angelo DiSpigna roped a single into right to drive in Thomas and move Price to third. Austin plated Price when he laid down a dribbling bunt and moved DiSpigna up 90 feet to second. The Bears' half of the first ended with consecutive pop-outs.

Tanner Hall - the game's starter - had two perfect innings until the Rattlers piled on a pair of runs, five hits, but fanned a trio in 3.2 innings of work.

FAMU leveled things in their half of the third at 2 when they piled the offense on Hall on two consecutive hits and a sacrifice to first.

COACH GIBSON'S THOUGHTS

𝟭-𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸

Hear @CraigGibson_MU's thoughts on the midweek win in Tallahassee. #WinnersWin | #LightTheBridge pic.twitter.com/8I4Rh968HN
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 12, 2022

Stephens entered with two out in the third and quelled the Rattlers' offense by forcing a swinging strikeout to end the inning. Burke's solo homer swung the momentum back in Mercer's favor with the newfound 3-2 lead.

Austin followed with a home run of his own in the sixth to bring the lead back to two.

In the eighth, FAMU threatened once more and plated just one until they were retired Luke Sutko.

Jackson Kelley secured the win and notched the save when he struck out the side to clinch the 4-3 win.

Mercer will return to conference play this weekend with a trip to UNCG. Friday's first pitch from Greensboro, N.C. is set for 6 p.m.