Mercer University
5-1
Columbia
0-2
Bears Steamroll Lions In 20-6 Victory
2/21/2026 10:38:00 PM | Baseball
Decisive Plays:
After Columbia scored in the top of the first inning, the Bears plated three runs courtesy of homers from Braydon Kersey (2) and Titan Kamaka (1). Michael Graziano blasted his first home run of the season the following inning to give Mercer a 4-1 lead. Brant Baughcum would add another in the fourth with an RBI single before the Lions would plate their second run of the contest in the top of the fifth. Eli Stephens ripped an RBI double in the home half of the frame to bring the Bears' advantage back to four runs. A two-run single by Dylan LaPointe, RBI single from Devyn McEachron and LaPointe coming home off a passed ball made it 10-2 heading into the seventh. Columbia would score four runs in the top of the seventh headlined by Jackson Brewer's three-run home run. In the home half of the frame, Kersey laced a two-run double to center field, LaPointe blasted a three-run home run (1), Kaleb Huffman smashed a two-run bomb (1) and Baughcum ripped an RBI double to give the Bears an 18-6 lead. Chris Katz capped off the scoring with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.
Key Contributors:
Braydon Kersey:Â 3-for-5, 3 RBI, HR, double
Dylan LaPointe:Â 2-for-3, 5 RBI, HR, 2 BB, 2 R
Miguel Hugas:Â 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 84 NP
Noteworthy:
- As a unit, Mercer racked up 20 runs, 17 hits and 19 RBI. The Bears' 20 runs and 19 RBI is the most since they recorded 22 runs and 22 RBI against VMI on April 4, 2025. Mercer's 17 hits surpassed the previous season-high of 16 reached against Troy on February 14 and ties the most in a single game since the Bears collected 17 hits against VMI on April 5, 2025.
- Alongside Mercer's runs, hits and RBI, the Bears set season highs in total at-bats, doubles, walks and home runs. Mercer mashed five doubles, blasted five home runs, drew 15 walks and took 41 at-bats.
- Miguel Hugas improved to 2-0 on the season after throwing five innings in two consecutive outings. The junior pitcher has a 2.70 ERA on the year and has struck out five batters in 10 innings.
- Mercer secured its second consecutive series win with a 20-6 victory over Columbia on Saturday night. The Bears are currently 2-0 on Friday nights and improve to 2-1 on Saturdays.
The Bears conclude their weekend series against Columbia on Sunday, February 22 at OrthoGeorgia Park at 12:00 p.m. LHP Jess Ackerman (1-0, 4.91 ERA) is slated to take the mound for the Bears while RHP Thomas Santana (0-0, -.--) is scheduled to take the mound for the Lions. Live stats will be available at mercerbears.com. Tickets are available at http://mercerbears.com/tickets.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hugas, Miguel (1-0)
L: Lopez, Tomas (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Brewer, Jackson 1
RBI: Brewer, Jackson 4 ; Fishel, Ben 1 ; Fellows, Cole 1
SF: Fishel, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slabaugh, Charlie 1 ; Brewer, Jackson 1 ; Chadwell, Jimmy 2 ; Fishel, Ben 1 ; Vogler, Tate 1
CS: Fishel, Ben 1
HBP: Fishel, Ben 1
Batting:
2B: Stephens, Eli 1 ; Shepherd, Logan 1 ; Kersey, Braydon 1 ; Katz, Chris 1 ; Baughcum, Brant 1
HR: Graziano, Michael 1 ; Kersey, Braydon 1 ; Huffman, Kaleb 1 ; Kamaka, Titan 1 ; LaPointe, Dylan 1
RBI: Stephens, Eli 1 ; Graziano, Michael 1 ; Kersey, Braydon 4 ; Huffman, Kaleb 2 ; Kamaka, Titan 1 ; Katz, Chris 2 ; LaPointe, Dylan 5 ; Baughcum, Brant 2 ; McEachron, Devyn 1
SH: Baughcum, Brant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Perriello, Luca 1 ; Shepherd, Logan 2 ; Graziano, Michael 2 ; Kersey, Braydon 3 ; Huffman, Kaleb 2 ; Kamaka, Titan 4 ; Katz, Chris 2 ; LaPointe, Dylan 2 ; Buffone, Ethan 1 ; McEachron, Devyn 1
SB: Kamaka, Titan 1
