Gibson Earns Program-Record 649th Win

Friday, March 31

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

18-9, 0

Western Carolina University

10-15, 0

Western Carolina

Mercer

Team celebrating coach Gibson's 649th win

3/31/2023 9:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Gibson is now the winningest coach in Mercer baseball history

By: Amanda Cover

MACON, Ga. – Mercer baseball head coach Craig Gibson is now the winningest coach in program history after the Bears (18-9, 3-1) defeated Western Carolina (10-15, 1-3) on Friday night, 2-1. Gibson earned his 649^th win, passing Barry Myers.

"What a night for Mercer baseball and Craig Gibson," Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole said. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations on becoming the winningest coach in Mercer history. As a former player, he has elevated our program to a level makes me so proud to be a Bear. I speak for everyone in the Mercer family when I say that we can't thank him enough for the hard work and dedication he has given to making Mercer baseball one of the best programs in the nation."

𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘. @CraigGibson_MU #GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/cDNoN5wYsA
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 1, 2023

HOW IT HAPPENED
After Colton Cosper struck out two batters in the top of the first, the Bears got on the board in the bottom of the opening frame with a single by Trevor Austin to score Treyson Hughes. Austin led the team with a 3-for-4 mark on the night. Mercer held the Catamounts scoreless in the second thanks to a double play and another strikeout for Cosper.

To lead off the second inning, Carter Geier stepped up to the plate and launched his second home run of the season on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Wasting no time! @Striving4MLB goes yard on the first pitch of his at-bat!

T2 | Mercer 2, WCU 0#GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/HLh1VBrLOz
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) March 31, 2023

Cosper dealt two more strikeouts in the top of the third to keep the Catamounts off the board. Mercer turned its second double play of the day in the fourth. Cosper's day was done after the fifth inning and his sixth strikeout. The solid defense continued as Jaxon O'Neal retired three-straight batters in the sixth, and the Bears worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

Western Carolina scored its lone run of the night in the top of the eighth on a ground out by Zach Ketterman to score Pascanel Ferreras. In the final frame, the Bears notched the third double play of the night, allowing Wes Franklin to strike out the final batter for the win.

Cosper (1-2) picked up his first win of the season behind a season-high six strikeouts. This total is just one shy of his career best set last season against Western Carolina. Franklin recorded his sixth save of the season after throwing the final 2.2 innings.

SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | Mercer 1, WCU 0                   Austin singled through the right side, scoring Hughes.
B2 | Mercer 2, WCU 0                   Geier homered to left center.
T8 | Mercer 2, WCU 1                   Ketterman grounded out to second base, scoring Ferreras.

UP NEXT: Mercer continues the series with Western Carolina on Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BEARS:
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