Cosper's 9-Strikeout Performance Powers Mercer Over VMI

Friday, April 12

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

18-19, 2-5

VMI

18-14, 3-4

VMI

Mercer

Cosper's 9-Strikeout Performance Powers Mercer Over VMI

4/12/2024 8:48:00 PM | Baseball

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MACON -- Junior Colton Cosper punched out nine VMI (18-19, 2-5 SoCon) hitters over eight innings of work to help power the Mercer Bears (18-14, 3-4 SoCon) over the Keydets 10-2.

Sophomore Benjy Tucker also made an impact on the mound for the Bears, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits.

At the plate, the Bears were paced by junior Jackson Cherry, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run, two walks and an RBI. Junior Parker Lester put together a standout performance as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Senior Noah Best also contributed for Mercer, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mercer's offense started clicking and put up five runs in the second inning, including a two-run single off the bat of senior Brandon Prince.

The Keydets failed to push any runs across before the Bears offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Mercer picked up a run on Best's two-out solo home run off of Andrew Jones, which brought the score to 6-0 in favor of the Bears.

Mercer kept VMI without a run before expanding their lead to 7-0 the following inning. The Bears notched a run on Cherry's two-out solo home run off Jones.

The Keydets fought back, closing the gap to 7-1 until Mercer added some insurance in the fifth. The Bears pushed across two runs when a single from senior Carter Sanford scored senior Conner Todaro and Lester, bringing the Mercer advantage to 9-1.

VMI got within 9-2 until the Bears scored again in the eighth inning to stretch its lead to 10-2. Mercer scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Bradley Frye. The score remained 10-2 for the rest of the game, as the Bears coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Sanford compiled three base hits in the game for Mercer.
» Cosper struck out nine Keydets hitters.
» Every Mercer starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Bears had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Keydets 5-0 in the bottom of the second.
» Cosper put together eight innings of two-run ball for the Bears.
» Mercer hitters hit three homers in the ballgame.
» The Bears out-hit the Keydets at a 10-6 clip.
» Mercer went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers faced 32 VMI hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Bears drew five walks from VMI pitching.
» Cherry led the Bears at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» VMI was led offensively by Brett Cook, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Hunter led the Keydets pitching staff, throwing 3.2 innings of one-run ball.