Mercer University
Alabama State
Bears Welcome Alabama State and Kennesaw State For Midweek Action
3/10/2025 3:27:00 PM | Baseball
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| Alabama State/Kennesaw State at Mercer | Tuesday, March 11 & Wednesday, March 12 | 6 PM, 6 PM ET | ||
| Site | Location | OrthoGeorgia Park at Claude Smith Field | Macon, Ga. | |
| Links | Alabama State vs. Mercer - Tuesday, 6 p.m. ET:  Live Stats | TV: ESPN+ Expected Pitching Match-Up:  MER RHP Jackson Gaspard (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. ASU RHP Esaid Pena (0-3, 4.91 ERA)       Kennesaw State vs. Mercer - Wednesday, 6 p.m. ET:  Live Stats  | TV:  ESPN+ Expected Pitching Match-Up:  MER TBA vs. KSU TBA |
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Notables
> Both Alabama State and Kennesaw State are familiar opponents, as the Bears defeated the Hornets 1-0 on March 5 and took down the Owls 9-4 on February 19
> Mercer is coming off of a series win over Southern last weekend, taking Friday night's series opener and splitting a doubleheader on Saturday
> The Mercer pitching staff posted back-to-back shutouts last week, the first time the Bears have done so since 2022. The Bears blanked Alabama State on Wednesday before shutting out Southern on Friday
> Bradley Frye has been one of the best hitters in the country to begin the season. Frye currently ranks second in the country with 33 hits and leads the SoCon and ranks 21st nationaly with a .471 batting
average
> Terry Busse continues to dominate out of the bullpen, picking up his fourth save of the season on Saturday with 3.1 hitless innings in relief
> After being sidelined for two weeks due to injury, Titan Kamaka returned to the lineup with a bang this past weekend. On Friday, Kamaka hit a two-run home run in his second at-bat for his first homer in the Orange & Black. Kamaka continued to provide a boost on Saturday, going 4-for-8 with six RBI across both games of the doubleheader, including a three-run home run in game one.Â
Scouting Alabama State
Alabama State brings a 6-11 record into the week, most recently taking one of three games against North Florida over the weekend. The Hornets are led at the plate by Juan Cruz, the 2024 SWAC Freshman of the Year. Cruz leads the team in virtually all offensive categories, including average (.425), home runs (4) and RBI (21). Right-hander Esaid Pena is expected to get the start on the mound on Tuesday. Pena started for the Hornets in their first meeting with the Bears last Wednesday, working 6.2 innings with one run allowed.
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Scouting Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State also brings a 6-11 record into the week and took one of three games against West Virginia last weekend. Chris Cole has been the Owls' top hitter this season, hitting .364 with a .500 OBP. Cam Suto has provided some power in the lineup, slugging five home runs
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