Bears Unable to Overcome Early Deficit In Loss To Georgia Southern

Wednesday, April 9

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

22-13

Georgia Southern

20-13

Georgia Southern

Mercer

Bears Unable to Overcome Early Deficit In Loss To Georgia Southern

4/9/2025 9:46:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

MACON – Visiting Georgia Southern jumped out to a big lead early on Wednesday and did not look back, taking an 8-3 win over Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Zack Thompson (2-for-4) hit his first home run of the season and added a double for his fourth consecutive multi-hit game to lead the Bears at the plate. Carson Bryant (2-1) got the win for Georgia Southern, while Andrew Garnett (1-1) took the loss for Mercer.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Eagles jumped on the Bears in the first inning, using a two-run homer to take a 2-0 lead. The Eagles extended their lead in the third, tallying four hits to plate two more runs and make the score 4-0.

The top of the fourth was another big inning for the Eagles offense, who banged out five more hits to score three and push the lead to seven.

After being held hitless through the first four innings, the Mercer offense got going in the fifth when Thompson smacked a leadoff home run to left field to get the Bears on the board. Drew Johnson stepped in next and slapped a single to right before coming around to score on a two-out base hit up the middle from Ely Brown.

However, Georgia Southern responded in their next at-bat with a solo home run, making it an 8-2 ballgame. In the home half of the inning, the Bears strung together two hits and walk to load the bases without nobody out. After an infield pop-up and a strike out, Eli Stephens pinch hit and came through with a two-out knock to score Ty Dalley and bring the deficit back to five.

Both sides went quietly in the seventh, with Terry Busse working a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts for Mercer. In the top of the eighth, Collin Ewaldsen took over on the mound and worked a shutout inning of his own to keep the score at 8-3. In the bottom of the inning, Thompson stayed hot by lining a double down the left field line, but was left stranded as the deficit remained five.

Looking to rally in the ninth, Cody Soliday posted a zero to give the Bears a chance in the home half. However, the Eagles were able to retire the side in order to take the win.

UP NEXT

The Bears welcome Charleston Southern to OrthoGeorgia Park on Friday for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at Mercerbears.com/tickets.