Mercer University
Alabama State
Bears Travel To Montgomery For Date With Alabama State
3/4/2025 12:50:00 PM | Baseball
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| Mercer at Alabama State | Wednesday, March 5 | 7 PM ET | ||
| Site | Location | Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex | Montgomery, Ala. | |
| Links | 7 p.m. ET: Live Stats | TV: Hornet Sports Network ($) Expected Pitching Match-Up: MER RHP Cade Cosper (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. ASU TBD |
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NotablesÂ
> Â Wednesday marks the first road game for the Bears since February 19, when the Bears defeated Kennesaw State by a score of 9-4
> Â Bradley Frye has been one of the hottest hitters in the country to begin the season. Frye earned SoCon Player of the Week honors on February 24 and stayed hot in five games last week with 11 hits in 23 at-bats. On the season, Frye ranks third in the country with 25 hits, leads the team and ranks third in the SoCon with a .481 batting average and is fourth in the conference with 19 RBI
>  Ty Dalley has been an extra-base hit machine so far this season. His four home runs are tied for the team lead, while his seven doubles are the top mark in the SoCon. The SoCon Preseason Player of the Year has hit 42 home runs in his career and needs 14 more to tie the Mercer career record
> Â Bears pitchers have been excellent to begin the campaign, holding a 4.33 ERA with 119 strikeouts, the top mark in the Southern Conference. Opponents have hit just .243Â against Bears pitching this season
> Â Friday night starter Colton Cosper earned SoCon Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday after shutting down one of the country's top offenses. Cosper picked up the win against High Point on Friday, tossing five scoreless innings against a lineup that entered the weekend fifth in the country in runs scored and third in batting average. Cosper limited the Panthers to three hits without allowing a free pass and racked up seven strikeouts, tying the second-best single game mark in his career.
> Â Sophomore center fielder Ely Brown has been an on base machine in the leadoff spot this season. Brown has reached base at a .583 clip, good for fifth in the SoCon. His keen eye at the plate has allowed him to draw 16 walks, which ranks seventh in the country. Setting the table for a powerful middle of the order, Brown's on base prowess has led to him scoring 19 runs, the fifth-most in the SoCon and 12th-most in the country.
Scouting Alabama StateWednesday marks the 18th all-time meeting between the Bears and Hornets, but the first since 2014. Alabama State brings a 5-7 record into the week and will host Georgia State on Tuesday before taking on the Bears on Wednesday.
Alabama State has swung the bats well in the early going, holding a .287 team batting average. They are led by first baseman Juan Cruz, who was named the SWACÂ Freshman of the Year in 2024. Cruz leads the Hornets in most offensive categories, including average (.442), OPS (1.316), home runs (5) and RBI (17). The Alabama State pitching staff has posted a 6.99 ERA as a unit.
The Hornets went 29-27 in 2024, including an 18-12 record in SWAC play. Alabama State was picked to finish fourth in the SWAC Preseason Poll and received one first place vote.
