Four-Run Eighth Inning Fuels Mercer's Comeback Win Over Wofford

Sunday, May 4

Spartanburg, S.C.

1 p.m.

Mercer University

31-19, 10-8

Wofford

27-22, 5-10

Mercer

Wofford

Four-Run Eighth Inning Fuels Mercer's Comeback Win Over Wofford

5/4/2025 5:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Trailing 6-2 going into the sixth inning, Mercer scored two runs in the sixth, two runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth to secure a comeback win over Wofford on Sunday.

Titan Kamaka (3-for-5) delivered the go-ahead hit, Zack Thompson (3-for-5) drove in three runs, and Eli Stephens (2-for-5) and Bradley Frye (1-for-6) drove in two runs apiece to lead the Bears at the plate. Terry Busse (3-1) got the win with four innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen, striking out five. Michael Sills (2-3) took the loss for Wofford.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wofford jumped out to an early lead for the third game in a row, scoring once in the first and two times in the second to take a 3-0 advantage. Mercer got a run back in the top of the third, with Ely Brown and Brant Baughcum leading off the inning with a pair of singles before Frye came through with a single of his own, cutting the deficit to two.

However, the Terriers answered right back, scoring a run in third and fourth innings to make it a 5-1 game. In the top of the fifth, Frye collected his second RBI of the day with a groundout to score Brown, but Wofford added a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to keep the deficit at four.

Mercer continued to chip away in the sixth inning, as Thompson slapped a single to left center to drive in Kamaka before Baughcum singled to left field to bring home Michael Graziano. Busse was finally able to silence the Wofford offense in the bottom of the frame, putting up the Bears' first zero of the afternoon.

Parker Lester made his presence felt in the seventh by crushing a solo home run to right field. The homer was his tenth of the season and made it a one-run game. The Bears mounted a two-out rally later in the inning, as Graziano and Thompson singled to put two runners on base. Stephens stepped in next and delivered his first clutch hit of the day, lifting a single to right field to tie things up at six.

Busse put up his second zero in the bottom of the inning, needing only ten pitches to retire the side in order.

Looking to salvage the weekend series, the Mercer offense exploded with a huge inning in the top of the eighth. Baughcum and Frye reached base on a walk and an error, setting the table for Kamaka, who picked up his third hit of the day with a line drive to right field to give the Bears the lead. Following a walk to Graziano, Thompson secured a three-hit day of his own with a single to left center, scoring Frye and Kamaka. Finally, Stephens slapped a ground ball through the right side of the infield to drive in Graziano for the fourth run of the inning.

Now working with a 10-6 lead, Busse worked another scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth to send the Bears to the ninth with the lead. Collin Ewaldsen took over on the mound in the ninth and finished things off, allowing two runs before picking up a strikeout to lock down a 10-8 win.

With the win, Mercer improves to 31-19 overall and 10-8 in SoCon play. The win marked the Bears' sixth in their last eight games.

UP NEXT

The Bears will return home to OrthoGeorgia Park on Wednesday to host Georgia Tech for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Mercer will play tribute to current and retired members of the United States Armed Forces, celebrating Military Appreciation Night. As part of the tribute, free General Admission tickets will be made available to all military veterans and their families. Military appreciation tickets can be reserved by presenting military ID at the OrthoGeorgia Park box office. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time by visiting Mercerbears.com/tickets.