Dalley Breaks Career Home Run Record, Bears Fall Late To Virginia Tech

Sunday, May 11

Blacksburg, Va.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

31-22

Virginia Tech

29-22

Mercer

Virginia Tech

Dalley Breaks Career Home Run Record, Bears Fall Late To Virginia Tech

5/11/2025 5:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Junior outfielder Ty Dalley made history on Sunday, hitting career home run number 57 to break Mercer's career home run record, a mark that had stood since 1983. However, a run in the eighth inning for the Hokies was the difference in the game as Virginia Tech took a 6-5 win.

Dalley (2-for-5) had two hits and three RBI, while Michael Graziano (0-for-2) and Parker Lester (0-for-2) drove in runs of their own to lead the Bears offensively. Jackson Gaspard was sharp in his start for Mercer, tossing four innings of one-run ball. Terry Busse (3-2) took the loss for the Bears, while Luke Craytor (1-2) got the win for Virginia Tech.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Much like Saturday's game between the Bears and Hokies, it was a pitcher's duel early on with each side going down in order in the first. The Hokies took an early lead in the second with a solo home run, making it a 1-0 game.

Getting the start at DH, freshman David Falloon recorded his first career hit in the top of the third with a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild throw by the catcher. However, Falloon was left stranded as the score remained 1-0.

Gaspard kept the Bears within one by putting up zeroes in the third and fourth innings, including a pair of punch-outs in the fourth. With Gaspard out of the game in the fifth, the Hokies added to their lead with a couple of hits and a costly Mercer error, making the score 4-0.

The Bears finally broke through offensively to answer in the top of the sixth. Brant Baughcum and Bradley Frye led off the inning with singles before Titan Kamaka drew a walk to load the bases. With one out in the inning, Graziano drove in Mercer's first run of the weekend with a ground ball and reached first on an error from the first baseman. Lester stepped in next and drove in another run, lifting a sac fly to center to make it a 4-2 game.

In the bottom of the inning, the Hokies got a run back on a sac fly of their own to grab a three-run lead.

The lead did not last long, however, as Dalley delivered a two-out, three-run home run to right center to tie things up at five in the top of the seventh. The record-breaking home run was his 18^th of the season and extended his team lead.

Terry Busse took over in the bottom of the seventh and put up a zero, keeping the score tied. The Bears threatened once again the top of the eighth, with the first two hitters of the inning reaching on walks. Mercer attempted to move the runners over with a bunt, but the Hokies were able to nab the lead runner at third before a pair of groundouts kept the Bears off the board.

Virginia Tech took advantage of the opportunity, scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 6-5. That was where the game would end, as the Bears were retired in order in the top of the ninth.

UP NEXT

Mercer returns home to OrthoGeorgia Park for the final regular season series of the season, taking on the Samford Bulldogs beginning on Thursday. First pitch for Thursday's game is set for 6 p.m., with Friday's game two also beginning at 6 p.m. and Saturday's series finale and Senior Day ceremony set for 2 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at Mercerbears.com/tickets.