Cosper’s Gem Helps Bears Silence Spartans

Friday, April 25

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

27-17, 7-6

UNC Greensboro

18-22, 7-3

UNC Greensboro

Mercer

4/25/2025 9:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MACON – Senior left-hander Colton Cosper was magnificent on Friday night, throwing seven shutout innings before freshman Braydon Kersey locked it down with a six-out save to help Mercer take the series opener over UNC Greensboro by a score of 3-0 at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Parker Lester (2-for-4) homered and drove in two runs, while Brant Baughcum (2-for-4) drove in a run of his own to lead the Bears in the batter's box. Cosper (6-1) limited the Spartans to four hits while striking out five to pick up his third consecutive win over UNCG. Kersey nailed down his first save of the season by retiring all six Spartans he faced, including two via the punch-out. Sam Murchison (5-4) took the loss for UNCG.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a classic Friday night pitcher's duel from the start, with both Cosper and Murchison dominating in the early going. Cosper wiggled out of a mini-jam in the first, as center fielder Ely Brown leaped into the wall to rob an extra-base hit with two on and two out.

Cosper settled into a groove in the second, retiring the side in order before working around a one out walk in the third to keep things scoreless.

Brown flashed the leather again in the fourth, making another leaping catch against the center field wall to take away another extra-base hit and help Cosper work another clean frame.

The Bears finally broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth with Baughcum shooting a ball down the third base line for a double, scoring Brown for the first run of the game. Cosper continued to cruise in the sixth, posting his third 1-2-3 inning of the night to keep the score at 1-0.

Looking to extend the lead, Lester made his mark on the game in the bottom of the sixth, launching a no-doubt home run to right field to make it 2-0.

With Cosper still working a shutout, it looked as if the Spartans may finally break through in the top of the seventh, using two singles and a HBP to load the bases with one out. However, Cosper did not back down, inducing a 4-6-3 double play with a roar of a celebration to boot, escaping the jam to end his night.

Kersey took the ball in the top of the eighth and did not skip a beat, striking out two in a clean inning before letting out an emphatic celebration of his own.

Still holding a two-run lead, Drew Johnson got things started for the Bears in the bottom of the eighth with a walk and a stolen base to put himself in scoring position. Lester stepped in with two outs and delivered once again, dropping a single in front of the left fielder to score Johnson and push the lead to three.

Kersey finished the job in the top of the ninth, retiring the side in order once again to secure the 3-0 win.

UP NEXT

The Bears and Spartans will meet again tomorrow for game two of the series at 2 p.m. at OrthoGeorgia Park. The series concludes on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at Mercerbears.com/tickets.