Mercer Drops Opening Contest At Western Carolina

Friday, May 10

Cullowhee, N.C.

5 p.m.

Mercer University

25-23, 5-10

Western Carolina

24-23, 9-7

Mercer

Western Carolina

Mercer Drops Opening Contest At Western Carolina

5/10/2024 8:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- The Mercer Bears (26-23, 5-10 SoCon) struggled on both sides of the field in a 12-3 loss to the Western Carolina Catamounts (24-23, 9-7 SoCon) on Friday.

Junior Colton Cosper got the ball to start for Mercer and took the loss. The left-hander went six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out three. Four pitchers came out of the bullpen to finish out the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mercer's first run came in the fourth inning off of an RBI single from junior Bradley Frye, scoring junior Parker Lester from second base.

The Catamounts expanded their lead to 4-1 before the Bears came within two runs in the seventh inning. Senior Max Kops came across to score the lone run of the inning for Mercer, which tightened the Catamounts lead to 4-2. Western Carolina scored five runs in the seventh inning to take a 9-2 lead.

The Bears scored a run on Dalley's two-out solo home run off sophomore Dusty Revis in the top of the eighth, but the Bears were unable to get any closer, as Western Carolina added three runs to their tally on the way to a 12-3 final.

GAME NOTES
» Mercer pitchers faced 46 Western Carolina hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out four.
» Dalley led the Bears at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Western Carolina was led offensively by junior Mason Holton, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Senior Gavin Mortenson led the Catamounts pitching staff, throwing six innings of one-run ball.