Mercer University
20-17, 4-7
Wofford
26-11, 7-4
Mercer Secures Walk-Off Victory Over Wofford
4/20/2024 5:13:00 PM | Baseball
MACON -- The Mercer Bears (20-17, 4-7 SoCon) rallied all the way back from a late 8-4 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning, and then used junior Parker Lester's solo home run off of senior Mike Eggert in the ninth to pick up the 9-8 victory over the Wofford Terriers (26-11, 7-4 SoCon) on Saturday.
Junior Caleb Bohn earned the victory out of the bullpen for Mercer. The right-hander went two shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing no walks and striking out three. Junior Colton Cosper also made an impact on the mound for the Bears, starting the ballgame and throwing five innings, giving up two runs, all earned, on six hits with one walk and one strikeout.
In the batter's box, the Bears were led by junior Jackson Cherry, who went 3-for-4 on the day with two doubles, a home run, a walk and three RBI. Senior Conner Todaro furnished a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Lester put together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer scored three runs in the second inning to take an early lead, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Cherry.
Mercer picked up a run on Cherry's two-out solo home run off of freshman Camden Wicker, which brought the Bears lead to 4-2.
Mercer's lead had evaporated by the time the seventh inning came around and turned into an 8-4 Wofford advantage, when the Bears evened up the game at eight. The Bears bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Todaro.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Mercer walked it off on Lester's leadoff home run off of Eggert.
GAME NOTES
» Mercer got three-hit games from both Cherry and senior Noah Best.
» Mercer got a great power hitting day from Cherry, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Every Mercer starter reached base safely in the win.
» Mercer went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers faced 40 Wofford hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out six.
» The Bears drew four walks from Wofford pitching.
» Cherry led the Bears at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI.
» Wofford was led offensively by freshman Daniel Jackson, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI.
» Wicker led the Terriers pitching staff, throwing six innings of four-run ball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bohn, Caleb (1-0)
L: Mike Eggert (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Dixon Black 1
HR: Daniel Jackson 1 ; David Wiley 1 ; Tyler Hare 1
RBI: Daniel Jackson 4 ; David Wiley 2 ; Tyler Hare 1 ; Lucas Manning 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dixon Black 2 ; Brice Martinez 2 ; Daniel Jackson 2 ; David Wiley 1 ; Tyler Hare 1
SB: Lucas Manning 1
CS: David Wiley 1
HBP: Marshall Toole 1 ; Brice Martinez 1
Batting:
2B: Cherry, Jackson 2 ; Todaro, Conner 1 ; Frye, Bradley 1
HR: Cherry, Jackson 1 ; Lester, Parker 1
RBI: Cherry, Jackson 3 ; Todaro, Conner 3 ; Lester, Parker 1 ; Best, Noah 1 ; Frye, Bradley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cherry, Jackson 2 ; Prince, Brandon 1 ; Dalley, Ty 1 ; Todaro, Conner 1 ; Lester, Parker 1 ; Sanford, Carter 1 ; Frye, Bradley 1 ; Brown, Antonio 1
HBP: Dalley, Ty 1
