Mercer Breaks Through Late Tie For Victory Against East Tennessee State

Saturday, April 6

Johnson City, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

16-13, 2-3

East Tennessee State

19-10, 4-4

Mercer

ETSU

Mercer Breaks Through Late Tie For Victory Against East Tennessee State

4/6/2024 5:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. -- The Mercer Bears (16-13, 2-3 SoCon) broke through a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning to beat the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (19-10, 4-4 SoCon) 8-5 Saturday.

Sophomore Micah Takac got the win out of the bullpen for Mercer. The right-hander went one shutout inning, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out one. Junior Bryant Olson also pitched well to close out the game, going two shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking none and striking out two.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bears were trailing 2-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Mercer scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from junior Jackson Cherry.

The Bears then held the Buccaneers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Mercer plated two runs off of East Tennessee State pitching, punctuated by an RBI double off the bat of senior Carter Sanford, which brought the Bears' lead to 5-2.

East Tennessee State fired back to tie the ballgame at five before Mercer reclaimed a 7-5 advantage in the seventh inning. The Bears recorded two runs in the frame, the key hit being an RBI double from sophomore Ty Dalley.

Mercer held the Buccaneers scoreless before building on their lead in the ninth inning. The Bears pushed across a run when Sanford drew a walk that scored senior Conner Todaro, bringing the score to 8-5 in favor of Mercer. The score remained 8-5 for the rest of the game, as the Bears held on for the win.

GAME NOTES
» Dalley compiled three base knocks in the game for Mercer.
» The Bears power output was led by Dalley, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Mercer took the lead at 3-2 in the top half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Five Bears had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Bears out-hit the Buccaneers at a 14-13 clip.
» Mercer went 5-for-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers limited East Tennessee State to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Mercer pitchers faced 47 East Tennessee State hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Bears drew four walks from East Tennessee State pitching.
» Cherry led the Bears at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.
» East Tennessee State was led offensively by senior Noah Gent, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.