Georgia Tech Edges Mercer

Tuesday, April 25

Atlanta, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

26-15

Georgia Tech

23-18

Mercer

Georgia Tech

Ty Dalley catching a ball tossed to him by Jozsef Rohrbacher

4/25/2023 9:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Amanda Cover

ATLANTA – The Mercer baseball program (26-16) played to a tight defeat to Georgia Tech (23-18), 6-3, on Tuesday night at Mac Nease Baseball Park. A grand slam for the Yellow Jackets proved to be the difference as the Bears outhit Georgia Tech, 10-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Treyson Hughes was hit by the first pitch on the night, but the Bears could not get anything going in the top of the first. Fred Wilson started on the bump and only needed seven pitches to retire the side. Six of his seven pitches were strikes, and he struck out the final batter of the inning.

Fred only needed 7 pitches to retire the side😮‍💨

E1 | Mercer 0, Georgia Tech 0#GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/6P0sPodj4G
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 25, 2023

The Bears had another strong defensive outing in the second inning as Wilson struck out the batter at the plate, and Carter Sanford caught the runner stealing second to end the frame. Wilson added his third strikeout of the day in the third as he retired the side again.

Got 'em x 2🔐

E2 | Mercer 0, Georgia Tech 0#GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/CAXjTzF9W4
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 25, 2023

Georgia Tech loaded the bases in the fourth on a single and two walks, and Drew Compton cleared them all with a grand slam.

In the top of the fifth, Jozsef Rohrbacher hit his second single of the day and Antonio Brown was walked, forcing a pitching change by the Yellow Jackets. Batting next was Hughes who reached on a fielder's choice, and after video review, A. Brown was called out at second, bringing Jackson Cherry to the plate with two outs. Cherry grounded out, stranding two on base.

Jess Ackerman worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth to keep Georgia Tech at bay. Mercer strung together a few plays in the top of the sixth after Sanford was hit and Trevor Austin and Bradley Frye singled, but the Bears could not push any across.

A looping double by Jack Rubenstein to left center scored another run for the Yellow Jackets in the bottom of the sixth after Jackson Finley reached on a single.

The Bears found a breakthrough in the top of the seventh. After A. Brown walked and Hughes singled, Georgia Tech made a pitching change. Eric Toth launched an RBI single to left field to score A. Brown for Mercer's first run of the night. A fielding error by Compton allowed Austin to reach first and Hughes to score another for the Bears.

Bears on the board! 𝚁𝙱𝙸 𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶𝙻𝙴 @eric_toth19

T7 | Mercer 1, Georgia Tech 5#GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/59TR8TW5Za
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 26, 2023

Georgia Tech responded immediately with an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh, but Connor Folds entered in relief and got the final two outs, including a strikeout to close the inning. Mercer put two runners on the base path in the top of the eighth after Rohrbacher's third single and Hughes' second consecutive single, but no runs were scored.

Mercer plated one more run in the top of the ninth on a ground-rule double by Austin, scoring Toth who reached on a single.

A ground rule double for Trevor Austin scores @eric_toth19!

T9 | Mercer 3, Georgia Tech 6#GoodToGreat || #WinnersWin pic.twitter.com/PcUa5ghUZf
— Mercer Baseball (@MercerBaseball) April 26, 2023

NOTES

4.0 innings pitched is a season high for Fred Wilson. Four strikeouts are also a season high.
Jozsef Rohrbacher went 3-for-4. Three hits are a season high for Rohrbacher.
This is only Mercer's third loss of the season when out-hitting its opponent.
Mercer is now 1-8 this season when scoring three runs or less.

SCORING SUMMARY
B4 | Mercer 0, GT 4                         Compton homered to left center, scoring DeLeo, DiSpigna, and Giesler.
B6 | Mercer 0, GT 5                         Rubenstein doubled to left center, scoring Finley.
T7 | Mercer 1, GT 5                         Toth singled to left field, scoring A. Brown.
T7 | Mercer 2, GT 5                         Hughes scored on a fielding error.
B7 | Mercer 2, GT 6                         Giesler doubled down the left field line, scoring Reid.
T9 | Mercer 3, GT 6                         Austin doubled to left center, ground-rule, scoring Toth.

UP NEXT: Mercer returns home for another Southern Conference series this weekend against UNCG, beginning on Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. at OrthoGeorgia Park.

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.