Eighth Inning Dramatics Power Bears Over Samford

Friday, May 16

Macon, Ga.

6 p.m.

Mercer University

33-22, 12-8

Samford

27-25, 12-8

Samford

Mercer

Eighth Inning Dramatics Power Bears Over Samford

5/16/2025 10:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

MACON – After a walk-off win in game one of the series on Thursday, Mercer used late-game heroics once again on Friday as a two-run eighth inning powered the Bears over Samford, clinching the series victory over the Bulldogs. Brant Baughcum played the hero for the Bears, as his go-ahead double proved to be the difference in the decisive eighth inning.

The double was the fourth hit of the day for Baughcum (4-for-5), while Ely Brown (2-for-5) drove in a pair of runs and Titan Kamaka (1-for-5) launched a two-run home run to power the Bears offensively. Braydon Kersey (3-4) got the win while Terry Busse locked down his eighth save of the season for Mercer. Josh Leerssen (2-3) took the loss for Samford.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior right-hander Jeb Johnson got the starting nod for Mercer and got his team off to a good start, stranding two to put up a zero in the top of the first. The Mercer offense wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the inning, as back-to-back two-out doubles from Bradley Frye and Ty Dalley plated the first run of the day. Looking to continue the rally, Kamaka stepped in next and made it a three-run inning, taking a two-strike offering over the wall in left field for his eighth home run of the season.

Johnson got some help from his infield in the top of the second, with Frye and Kamaka combining for a 6-4-3 double play before Brant Baughcum made a backhanded stop and throw across the diamond, where Parker Lester made a tough pick to nab the runner at first.

The Mercer bats went back to work in the bottom of the second, as Johnson led things off with a single and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt to put himself in scoring position. Brown capitalized on the opportunity, shooting a single to left field to drive in Johnson and push the lead to 4-0.

Samford chipped away at the Mercer lead in their next at-bats, scoring a run in the third and the fourth to make it 4-2. Jess Ackerman took over for Johnson on the mound in the fifth and was sharp, striking out three across three scoreless innings to keep it a 4-2 game heading into the the eighth.

The Bulldogs finally got to Ackerman in the top of the eighth, using a walk and a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Samford cut their deficit to one with an RBI groundout before another groundout put a runner at third with two outs. Mercer made the move to the bullpen, turning to Kersey, but a groundball to short saw Frye lose his footing, bringing home the tying run. Samford took the lead in their next at-bat, as a double scored the go-ahead run.

Facing their first deficit of the series, the Bears did not bat an eye, with Eli Stephens leading off the bottom of the inning with a pinch-hit single before a sac bunt put the tying run at second base. Zack Thompson came up next and shot a single up the middle, giving the Bears runners at the corners with one out. Just as he had earlier in the game, Brown took advantage of the opportunity, smacking a single to right field to bring home the tying run. This set the stage for Baughcum, who capped his huge night with a double down the left field line to score Thompson and give the Bears a 6-5 lead.

Looking to lock down the win, Mercer turned to senior Terry Busse in the ninth. Busse made quick work of the Bulldogs, retiring the side on just six pitches to lock down his eighth save of the year, giving the Bears a 6-5 win and the series victory.

With the win, Mercer moves to 33-22 overall and 12-8 in SoCon play, clinching a top-four seed and a bye in next week's SoCon Tournament as well as setting up an opportunity for the Bears to bring home a share of the Southern Conference regular season title on Saturday. With a win over Samford tomorrow and a win for The Citadel over ETSU, Mercer would earn a share of the conference title. The win also marked the Bears' first series win over Samford since 2021.

UP NEXT

Mercer and Samford wrap up the regular season at OrthoGeorgia Park tomorrow at 2 p.m. At tomorrow's game, the Bears will celebrate Senior Day, recognizing six individuals playing their final game at OrthoGeorgia Park. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time at Mercerbears.com/tickets.