Bears Cruise Past Toledo In Rubber Match, Take Series

Sunday, February 18

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

Toledo

Bears Cruise Past Toledo In Rubber Match, Take Series

2/18/2024 4:03:00 PM | Baseball

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By: jones_m@mercer.edu

MACON – Mercer pounded out 16 hits and tacked up crooked numbers in four different innings on the way to a 13-3 win over visiting Toledo in Sunday's series rubber match at OrthoGeorgia Park.

The result gave the Orange & Black (2-1) an opening-weekend series victory for the ninth-straight season, while also pushing MU's record out to 3-1 in the all-time series with the Rockets (1-2).

Sunday's win marked a successful collegiate debut for SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year Garrett Lambert (1-0) who struck out six and limited Toledo to just four hits across 5-1/3 innings pitched. Five different players recorded base hits for the hosts, including Noah Best and Ben Olson who turned in three hits apiece.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Mercer 13, Toledo 3
PITCHERS	WP: Garrett Lambert (1-0) LP: R.J. Shunck (0-1)
RECORDS	Mercer (2-1); Toledo (1-2)

KEY INNINGS
BOT 1	Antonio Brown and Carter Sanford drew consecutive 1-out walks, and Bradley Frye gave the hosts the lead for good two pitches later on a RBI single to centerfield. Toledo starter R.J. Shunck buckled down to put another out up on the board, but Mercer followed with consecutive run-scoring singles from Conner Todaro, Noah Best and Ben Olson to pad the advantage out to four runs.

MU LEADERS	UT LEADERS
Noah Best 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI Ben Olson 3-5, RBI Alex Ramirez 1-1, 3 BB, RBI Garrett Lambert 5.1 IP, 4 H, 6 K	Garret Pike 2-4 Owen Jackson 1-3, BB, RBI J.P. Wagner 1-4, RBI

UP NEXT
The Bears will make the short trip to Kennesaw on Tuesday to battle in-state nemesis Kennesaw State (1-2) at Stillwell Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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