All Mercer Starters Reach Base In 9-3 Win Over Kennesaw State

Tuesday, February 20

Kennesaw, Ga.

5 p.m.

Mercer University

3-1

Kennesaw State

1-3

Mercer

Kennesaw State

All Mercer Starters Reach Base In 9-3 Win Over Kennesaw State

2/20/2024 8:42:00 PM | Baseball

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KENNESAW -- Mercer (3-1) received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Bears put nine runs on the board and beat the Kennesaw State Owls (1-3) Tuesday.

Sophomore Jess Ackerman (1-0) got the win on the mound for Mercer. The right-hander went 2.2 shutout innings without giving up a hit, one walk and striking out three.

Sophomore Ty Dalley led the way offensively for the Bears, going 1-for-5 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk and two RBI. Junior Parker Lester provided a standout performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Senior Conner Todaro also chipped in, going 3-for-5 for Mercer with two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bears got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Todaro came across to score the lone run of the inning for Mercer and get them on the board.

The Bears then held the Owls scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Mercer scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Todaro, which brought the score to 2-0 in favor of the Bears.

Mercer kept Kennesaw State scoreless before expanding their lead to 8-0 the following inning. The Bears bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Dalley.

The Owls gained ground, closing the gap to 8-2 until Mercer added some insurance in the eighth. The Bears scored once on an RBI single off the bat of senior Brandon Prince, bringing the score to 9-2 in favor of Mercer. Kennesaw State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Bears still coasted to the 9-3 win.

GAME NOTES
» Mercer got three-hit games from three different hitters.
» Every Mercer starter reached base safely in the win.
» Mercer's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed six runs across.
» The Bears had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Owls 1-0 in the top of the second.
» The Bears out-hit the Owls at a 13-5 clip.
» Mercer pitchers limited Kennesaw State to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers faced 37 Kennesaw State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Bears drew seven walks from Kennesaw State pitching.
» Dalley led the Bears at the plate, going 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.
» Kennesaw State was led offensively by junior Donovan Cash, who went 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI.
» Freshman Jackson Abernathy led the Owls pitching staff, throwing two scoreless innings.