Mercer to Host Bellarmine

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer baseball program (5-4) will play its third consecutive home weekend series to open the season, welcoming Bellarmine (5-2), beginning on Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. at OrthoGeorgia Park. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game starting at 2 p.m. Sunday's game will round out the series at 1 p.m.

FRIDAY, March 3 | 6 p.m.
MER: RHP Josh Harlow (2-0, 1.50 ERA)
BELL: RHP Nolan Pender (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
TICKETS | LIVE STATS

SATURDAY, March 4 | 2 p.m.
MER: RHP Ryan Lobus (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
BELL: RHP Arren Hash (0-0, 5.19 ERA)
TICKETS | LIVE STATS

SATURDAY, March 4
MER: RHP Josh Farmer (0-1, 11.37 ERA)
BELL: RHP Drew Buhr (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
TICKETS | LIVE STATS

SUNDAY, March 5 | 1 p.m.
MER: TBA
BELL: LHP Gavin Braunecker (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
TICKETS | LIVE STATS

SCOUTING BELLARMINE
The Knights opened the season with four-straight wins after a weekend sweep over New Mexico State and a Friday victory against Southern Indiana. Bellarmine lost the next two games to USI to drop the series. Most recently, the Knights beat Western Kentucky, 9-7, on Tuesday. Bellarmine has yet to play at home this season with the first 16 games scheduled on the road.

Bellarmine has already launched 14 home runs this season led by Will Aubel with three in just 15 at-bats. Casey Sorg leads the team in batting average at .308 with eight hits in 26 at-bats. The Knights are active around the bases with eight stolen bases in 14 attempts.

Starting pitchers Nolan Pender and Drew Buhr have yet to allow an earned run this season and have combined for three wins on the mound. They have each thrown 16 strikeouts in 13 and 12 innings pitched, respectively. Arren Hash has made four appearances in relief and is expected to make his first start of the season this weekend. Gavin Braunecker has only thrown four innings across two starts while allowing 10 hits, 10 runs, and three walks.

RECENT ACTION
The Bears return to OrthoGeorgia Park after a tough game against Georgia Southern on Tuesday. Mercer won the past two Friday games behind the pitching of Josh Harlow. The sophomore recorded 17 strikeouts in 12 innings while only allowing two runs.

With two home runs apiece, Eric Toth and Eli Runyan lead the team with seven RBI each. Toth also leads the team in batting average (.379) and on-base percentage (.514). Trevor Austin has posted a team-high 13 hits while Treyson Hughes has crossed home plate a team-best 14 times.

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Players Mentioned

Trevor Austin

Josh Farmer

Josh Harlow

Treyson Hughes

Ryan Lobus

Eli Runyan

Eric Toth

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