Late Rally Falls Short

Friday, May 13

Macon, Ga.

6 P.M.

Mercer University

36-13, 0

VMI

16-33, 0

VMI

Mercer

5/13/2022 10:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

VMI bests Bears, 10-9

MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored six runs in the seventh inning, but its rally fell short in a 10-9 loss to VMI in the Southern Conference series opener Friday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.

The Keydets (16-33, 6-10 SoCon) scored at least one run in each of the first five innings to build an 8-3 advantage. VMI then tacked on two more in the top of the seventh to push the lead to seven runs.

In the bottom of the frame, Bill Knight hit his second solo homer of the game to cut the deficit to six.

The Bears (36-13, 9-7 SoCon) then loaded the bases when Will Mapes lined a single into left field that allowed Treyson Hughes to score the fifth run of the night. Craig Gibson called on Le Bassett to pinch hit for Blake Schmitt. The lefty turned on a 2-2 pitch and launched a grand slam to pull Mercer within a run.

Hughes was hit by a pitch and then Collin Price singled to put runners on the corner with two outs in the eighth inning. However, Tyler Bradt was able to keep the tying run from scoring after registering a strikeout to end the panel.

Bradt also struck out the side in the ninth to secure his second save of the season.

The Bears collected 10 hits at the plate.

Price was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the first inning. Knight had two hits, both home runs, while David Burke was 2 for 4 with an RBI double.

Tyler Morgan (2-3) received the win for the Keydets after holding Mercer to three runs in five innings of work.

Ryan Lobus (5-4) took the loss, as the righthander allowed seven runs (five earned) in 3.2 stanzas.

The two teams will continue the set Saturday at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, the Bears will honor their six seniors as part of a Senior Day ceremony.