Mercer University
Western Carolina
Bears Set To Open SoCon Tournament Play Thursday
5/21/2025 9:14:00 AM | Baseball
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| SoCon Tournament | Thursday, May 22 - Sunday, May 25Â | ||
| Site | Location | Fluor Field | Greenville, S.C. | |
| Links | Thursday, 3 p.m. ET: Live Stats | TV: ESPN+ Friday - Sunday: TBD Tournament Bracket |
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NotablesÂ
>Â Â Â Mercer enters the SoCon Tournament as the #4 seed, finishing the regular season with a 12-9 record in SoCon play to finish in a tie for third
>Â Â Â In seven conference series this season, Mercer recorded series victories over Western Carolina (2-1), VMI (2-1), UNC Greensboro (3-0) and Samford (2-1), while dropping series to The Citadel (1-2), ETSU (1-2) and Wofford (1-2)
>Â Â Â The Bears enter the tournament on the heels of a big series win over the weekend, taking 2/3 games against Samford. Both of Mercer's wins came in dramatic fashion, as Bradley Frye delivered his first career walk-off with a single in the bottom of the 9th in game one for a 2-1 win, while Brant Baughcum provided the go-ahead double in the bottom of the 8th of Mercer's 6-5 win in game two
>Â Â Â Since joining the Southern Conference ahead of the 2015 season, Mercer has taken home two SoCon Tournament titles (2015, 2019). The Bears have won three conference titles under head coach Craig Gibson, capturing the ASUN Tournament title in 2010
>Â Â Â Mercer was well-represented on this week's SoCon All-Conference Teams with five student-athletes receiving all-conference recognition. Starting pitcher Colton Cosper, shortstop Bradley Frye and outfielder Ty Dalley earned first team nods, while relief pitcher Collin Ewaldsen landed on the all-freshman team. Frye and second baseman Titan Kamaka were selected for the league's all-defensive team, with Frye taking home the Golden Glove Award as the conference's defensive player of the year
>Â Â Â Mercer's pitching staff finished the regular season as one of the top units in the SoCon. The Bears' 4.74 ERA and 1.43 WHIP both rank second in the league, while their 452 strikeouts rank thirdÂ
>Â Â Â Friday night starter Colton Cosper has enjoyed a sensational senior season, posting a 6-2 record with a 3.29 ERA (second in SoCon). As it currently stands, Cosper's ERA is the lowest single-season ERA for Mercer since Jackson Kelley recorded a 1.35 ERA in 2022. Cosper's final start at OrthoGeorgia Park was a memorable one, as the left-hander struck out a career-high 11 over 8 shutout innings against Samford
