Mercer University
Samford
Bears Wrap Up Regular Season With Home Series Against Samford
5/14/2025 12:39:00 PM | Baseball
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| Mercer vs. Samford | Thursday, May 15 - Saturday, May 17 | 6 PM, 6 PM, 1 PM ET | ||
| Site | Location | OrthoGeorgia Park | Macon, Ga. | |
| Links | Thursday, 6 p.m. ET: Live Stats  TV: ESPN+ Expected Pitching Match-Up: MER LHP Colton Cosper (6-2, 3.88 ERA) vs. SAM LHP Miller Riggins (4-2, 4.68 ERA)         Friday, 6 p.m. ET: Live Stats  TV: ESPN+ Expected Pitching Match-Up: MER TBA vs. SAM RHP Cameron Keshock (5-3, 4.66 ERA)  Saturday, 2 p.m. ET: Live Stats  TV: ESPN+
Expected Pitching Match-Up: MER TBA vs. SAM TBA |
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NotablesÂ
> The Bears will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, honoring six members of the team - Colton Cosper, Terry Busse, Bradley Frye, Parker Lester, Preston Joye and Thomas Collins - who will be playing their final game at OrthoGeorgia Park
>  The weekend series marks the final three games of the regular season and comes with important postseason ramifications. Mercer currently sits as the number four seed in next week's SoCon Tournament and clinches a first round bye in Greenville with one more win
> Â Ty Dalley made history on Sunday against Virginia Tech, slugging his 57th career home run to break Mercer's career home run record, previously held by Tim Smith (1980-83). Dalley's 18 home runs this season are the most on the team, third-most in the SoCon and 14th-most in the country
> Â Mercer was recognized among the top defensive units in the country this week, coming in at third in 643 Charts' team Defensive Runs Saved leaderboard. The mark is the best among mid-majors and trails only Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Mercer's .974 fielding percentage is good for 79th in the country and third in the SoCon.
> Â Mercer's pitching staff was outstanding last week in three games against ACC opponents, allowing a total of eight earned runs in 27 innings for an ERA of 2.67. On the season, the Bears boast a team ERA of 4.65, ranking 46th in the country. As it currently stands, the team ERA would be the team's lowest since 2015
>  Mercer second baseman Titan Kamaka will look to continue his success against SoCon opponents this weekend, as his .400 batting average in conference play in the top mark on the team and ranks third in the SoCon. Kamaka has been productive in his first season in the Orange & Black slashing .299/.375/.475 with seven home runs and 35 RBI
> Â Another newcomer who has made an immediate impact in Macon, Brant Baughcum has been a handful for opposing pitchers. Baughcum has been the toughest hitter to strike out in the SoCon this season, striking out once in every 10.9 at-bats, while hitting at a .327 clip with a .924 OPS
Scouting Samford
Thursday marks the 116th all-time meeting between the Bears and Bulldogs. Samford brings a 27-23 record into the week, including a 12-6 mark in SoCon play. The Bulldogs are coming off of a sweep of UNCG last weekend and sit in second place in the SoCon standings.
Samford leads the league in hitting in SoCon play, boasting a .314 batting average in 18 games. Six of the Bulldogs' regular starters hold batting averages north of .300, led by Jeffrey Ince at .339. Michael Gupton leads the team in home runs with 12, while Ince and Parker McDonald have both slugged double-digit home runs as well. On the mound, the Bulldogs have a 5.37 team ERA, with Mason Blasche leading the way with a 3.34 mark in 59.1 innings.
