Mercer University
13-7
Siena
0-16
Bears' Strong Hitting Day Secures Run Rule Win Over Siena
3/17/2024 2:37:00 PM | Baseball
MACON -- Senior Brandon Prince hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning to help propel the Mercer Bears (13-7, 0-0 SoCon) over the Siena Saints (0-16, 0-0 MAAC) 13-2 on Sunday.
Sophomore Jess Ackerman (2-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Mercer. The right-hander went six innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out seven.
Jackson Cherry's three extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-3 day, and included two doubles, a home run, a walk and two RBI. Senior Brandon Prince put together a standout effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Sophomore Ty Dalley also helped out for the Bears, putting together two hits in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jackson Cherry put Mercer on the board with a one-out solo home run off junior Billy Rozakis in the first inning.
The Saints failed to push any runs across before the Bears built on their lead in the third inning. The Mercer offense exploded for six runs, highlighted by a one-run double off the bat of senior Alex Ramirez, which brought the Bears lead to 7-0.
Siena narrowed Mercer's lead to 7-2 before the Bears stretched the advantage to 12-2 in the fourth inning. The Bears' bats heated up in the inning, scoring five runs, including a grand slam off the bat of Brandon Prince.
Mercer held the Saints without a run before building on their lead in the sixth inning. The Bears sent in a run on Cherry's one-out RBI double, bringing the score to 13-2 in favor of Mercer. The score remained 13-2 for the rest of the game, as the Bears coasted to the win by run-rule in the seventh inningÂ
GAME NOTES
» Jess Ackerman struck out seven Saints hitters.
» Mercer got a great power hitting day from Cherry, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Brandon Prince drove in four runs for Mercer.
» The Bears out-hit the Saints at an 11-7 clip.
» Mercer went 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers faced 28 Siena hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and five fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Bears drew nine walks from Siena pitching.
» Jackson Cherry led the Bears at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI.
» Siena was led offensively by freshman Noah Brooks, who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
» Junior Noah Wieczorek led the Saints pitching staff, throwing two innings of one-run ball.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ackerman, Jess (2-0)
L: Rozakis, Billy (0-4)
Batting:
2B: Brooks, Noah 1 ; D'Elia, Joe 1
RBI: Brooks, Noah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Meland, Gunnar 1 ; Thorburn, Gavin 1
SB: Meland, Gunnar 1
Batting:
2B: Cherry, Jackson 2 ; Ramirez, Alex 1
HR: Prince, Brandon 1 ; Cherry, Jackson 1
RBI: Prince, Brandon 4 ; Cherry, Jackson 2 ; Frye, Bradley 1 ; Sanford, Carter 1 ; Dalley, Ty 3
SF: Dalley, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Prince, Brandon 2 ; Cherry, Jackson 2 ; Frye, Bradley 1 ; Lester, Parker 1 ; Todaro, Conner 2 ; Sanford, Carter 1 ; Geier, Carter 1 ; Dalley, Ty 1 ; Ramirez, Alex 1 ; Brown, Antonio 1
HBP: Prince, Brandon 2 ; Cherry, Jackson 1 ; Geier, Carter 1
