ETSU Uses Late Rally To Take Down Mercer

Saturday, April 19

Macon, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

25-17, 6-6

East Tennessee State

27-11, 8-4

East Tennessee State

Mercer

4/19/2025 4:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Donovan Schultz, donovan.schultz@live.mercer.edu

MACON – ETSU scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead and held on from there, defeating Mercer by a score of 5-4 to take the series on Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Drew Johnson (1-for-3) hit a two-run homer, while Ely Brown (1-for-5) and Titan Kamaka (2-for-3) each drove in a run to lead the Bears at the plate. Brady Frederick (4-1) got the win in relief for ETSU, while Terry Busse (2-1) took the loss for Mercer.

HOW IT HAPPENED

ETSU grabbed a first inning lead for the second game in a row, plating a run on an RBI single in the top of the first The score remained 1-0 through the third, as Mercer starter Jess Ackerman was able to work out of jams in the second and third inning to keep it a one-run game. However, the Bucs added a run in the top of the fourth with a solo homer to make it 2-0.

Drew Johnson responded for the Bears in the bottom of the fourth, launching a two-run home run to tie things up at two. The homer was his second of the weekend and third in the last nine games.

ETSU was able to knock Ackerman out of the game in the top of the fifth with a leadoff double and looked as if they may have a big inning in store, loading the bases with nobody out. Ely Brown had other plans, catching a fly ball in center field and firing a strike to home plate to nail the Bucs base runner for a double play. Braydon Kersey induced an infield pop-up in the next at-bat to escape the inning unscathed.

The Bucs would not be kept down for long, using a solo home run in the top of the sixth to regain the lead. Collin Ewaldsen entered on the mound for the Bears in the seventh and worked out of a two-on, one out jam to keep the score at 3-2.

With their backs against the wall, the Mercer offense put together a rally in the home half of the seventh. Zack Thompson started the inning with a single, his second hit of the day. Following an ETSU error and a failed sacrifice bunt, Brown impacted the game once again by putting a double down the left field line, scoring pinch runner David Falloon to tie the game up at three. Looking to give the Bears their first lead of the day, Kamaka stepped in and lifted a sac fly to center field to score the go-ahead run.

The lead did not last long, however, as the Bucs answered right back with a two-out double in the top of the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. That would prove to be the final score, with ETSU retiring the Bears in order in the eighth and ninth to take the series.

UP NEXT

Mercer looks to rebound on Wednesday, traveling to Florida A&M for a 4 p.m. first pitch. The Bears return home next weekend for another crucial SoCon series, hosting UNCG starting on Friday. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at Mercerbears.com/tickets.