Positional Previews: Returning Pitchers

2/7/2026 9:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Rylee Bamberger, Rylee.m.bamberger@live.mercer.edu

MACON – The Mercer Bears return 15 arms from their 2025 stable that posted the second-best team ERA in the Southern Conference. Although Mercer lost key pitchers Colton Cosper and Terry Busse, the Bears were able to retain the nine other most-used arms from last year's unit.

Jess Ackerman
R-Senior | LHP

Ackerman headlines the returning staff fresh off a campaign where he led Mercer in strikeouts for the second consecutive season. Ackerman finished 2025 with 84 strikeouts and bolsters the most career strikeouts of any active SoCon pitcher. The southpaw has appeared in 61 games for the Bears with 166 innings under his belt and is coming off a career-best season after posting a 4.73 ERA. Ackerman received All-SoCon Preseason Second Team honors ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Head Coach Craig Gibson on Ackerman – "Jess has the ability and talent to pitch in a variety of roles. He's one guy that we can trust when the game is on the line, he can get the job done. His leadership and ability to take the rest of the pitching staff under his wing has really helped this group take the steps they needed to take to be the best they can be."

Garrett Lambert
R-Freshman | RHP

Possibly the biggest news for the Bears is the return of ace Garrett Lambert. The 2024 D1Baseball and Perfect Game SoCon Preseason Freshman of the Year is set take the mound for the first time since March 10, 2024. Lambert's freshman season was cut short after four appearances and 18.2 innings of work. The Lilburn, Georgia, native continued to rack up the accolades with Preseason All-SoCon First Team nods and D1Baseball currently lists him as the No. 1 SoCon prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Coach Gibson on Lambert – "We have waited three years for this, and we are excited for what Lambo can do. He's been very impressive throughout camp. He's a true professional."

Collin Ewaldsen
Sophomore | RHP

A member of the 2025 SoCon All-Freshman Team, Ewaldsen appeared in 24 games (third-most on Mercer) out of the bullpen for the Bears. Appearing primarily in high-leverage situations, Ewaldsen thrived under pressure all year, recording four saves (second-most on team) and turning in a 4.68 ERA with a 2-2 record. From March 26 until April 30, Ewaldsen did not concede a run (10-game scoreless streak). The Baxley, Georgia, native received All-SoCon Preseason First Team recognition.

Coach Gibson on Ewaldsen – "He's an explosive guy out of the pen with such an electric fastball. He's improved his arsenal a bit this offseason and we are excited to see that translate to the field. You can expect to see him pitching towards the end of games in some capacity."

Jeb Johnson
R-Senior | RHP

Johnson appeared in the third-most games of any returner last year. In his second season repping the orange and black, Johnson took the mound 21 times and made 10 starts, garnering 58 strikeouts in 61.1 innings while maintaining a 4-5 record.

Coach Gibson on Johnson – "He's a warrior. Nobody wants to compete and play at a higher level than Jeb Johnson. No moment is too big. He's everything you want out of a competitor."

Andrew Garnett
Senior | RHP

Garnett, a Macon native, transferred to Mercer ahead of the 2025 season. In his first year back home, Garnett solidified himself as one the most efficient relievers on staff. His 3.37 ERA was the highest on the squad (min. 25 IP) and he posted a solid 25-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Coach Gibson on Garnett – "Garney's a guy with great command over his fastball and a quality slider. We envision him coming in and getting plenty of pressure outs in the middle of the game with the ability to finish it off as well."

Braydon Kersey
Sophomore | RHP

In his first collegiate season, Kersey notched the fourth-most appearances on the squad. Kersey took the mound 22 times, making six starts, and tossed 45.2 innings as a freshman. The Alpharetta, Georgia, native posted a 3-4 record with a 5.52 ERA with 35 strikeouts. The 2025 Perfect Game Preseason SoCon Freshman of the Year received All-SoCon Preseason Second Team nods ahead of the upcoming season.

Coach Gibson on Kersey – "He's positioned himself to see time as a starter for us as well as come in to the game and get quality outs for you at any point."

Reid Fagerstrom
R-Senior | RHP

Fagerstrom enters his third season at Mercer after transferring from Jacksonville State ahead of the 2024 season. The Newnan, Georgia, native appeared in seven games in 2024 before missing the remainder of the year, and all of 2025, with injury. Fagerstrom brings a large amount of experience to a diverse pitching staff.

Coach Gibson on Fagerstrom – "Reid has faced a variety of adversity and his ability to persevere and overcome out on top is admirable. He's seen it all and we expect great things out of him."

Caden Alvey
Senior | LHP

After beginning his collegiate career as a starter at Motlow State Community College, Alvey transferred to Mercer and transitioned to the bullpen ahead of the 2025 campaign. As a junior, the southpaw took the mound 8 times and maintained a 4.50 ERA over six innings of work. Although his role last season was limited, Alvey is set to serve a significant role as one of four lefties in the Bears' bullpen.

Coach Gibson on Alvey – "Alvey's biggest strength is being a matchup guy that can come in and sit down a lefty. He also provides some length in the middle of the game if we ever need it."

Riley Cruce
Senior | LHP

Cruce prepares for his second year wearing the orange and black after appearing in 13 games last year. Cruce hurled 10 frames as a junior and punched out nine opposing batters. Cruce is one of four southpaws in the Bears' stable, and his strong offseason has propelled him into the opportunity to throw a lot more innings.

Coach Gibson on Cruce – "He's made a huge leap for us this offseason. He's a tremendous worker, a great teammate, and his dedication has put himself in a position to see quality innings."

Lawson Cole
R-Junior | RHP

Cole enters his fourth season as a Bear and is coming in fresh off a career year as a redshirt sophomore in 2025. The Forsyth, Georgia, native appeared in 14 games last year. Cole maintained a 4.70 ERA and a 1-1 record while fanning 17 over 23 frames.

Coach Gibson on Cole – "Lawson has great pitch ability and the talent to land three pitches for quality strikes inside the zone. Whenever he's in the game, you feel confident that he will provide quality innings and he doesn't shy away from the big moments."

Jackson Gaspard
Junior | RHP

After beginning his collegiate career in a limited role with Georgia Tech, Gaspard made the move to Macon where he made 10 starts (15 total app.). Gaspard tossed 45 innings, fanned 32 batters and posted a 4.40 ERA as a junior.

Coach Gibson on Gaspard – "JG came in as a guy who hadn't really thrown much before, and he turned in 40 innings for us last season. We are excited for him to continue growing in his career as a full-time pitcher."

Kai Decker
Sophomore | RHP

Although Decker's appearances were limited, he showed flashes of greatness in his five appearances as a freshman. Decker maintained a dominant 12-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 6.2 innings of work. This past summer, Decker played for the Macon Bacon in the Coastal Plain League and turned in a 2.08 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 10 games.

Coach Gibson on Decker – "He's one of the most talented guys that I have ever had the opportunity to coach. Although his role on the mound is yet to be determined, he has the ability to start as well as come into the game in some high-leverage situations."

Cooper Culberson
R-Freshman | RHP

Culberson has yet to make his collegiate debut after redshirting his first season in Macon. The Jackson, Georgia, native maintained a 0.93 ERA as a senior in high school while leading Strong Rock Christian School to a Final Four Appearance.

Coach Gibson on Culberson – "He's really taken strides in his development this offseason. I think the biggest breakthrough for Cooper was when he fully began to believe in and trust his stuff and he has had a really good camp."

Wyatt Mummert
Junior | LHP

Mummert came to Macon ahead of his sophomore season from Daytona State Community College. In his first season donning the orange and black, Mummert only made three appearances and recorded two strikeouts across three innings.

Cade Cosper
Junior | RHP

Cosper had his sophomore season cut short due to injury. The Carrollton, Georgia, native has 25 career appearances in the orange and black with 40.2 innings under his belt. Cosper began 2025 with a 1.00 ERA, only allowing two earned runs in 18 frames. He is projected to miss the 2026 season due to injury.