Kersey’s Historic Game Blasts Bears To Conference Series Win

Saturday, March 21

Macon, Ga.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

The Citadel

Kersey’s Historic Game Blasts Bears To Conference Series Win

3/21/2026 9:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

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

MACON, Ga. – Braydon Kersey became the first Bear to mash three home runs in a single game since March 28, 2024 to push the Mercer Bears (20-3, 2-0 SoCon) past The Citadel (8-18, 0-2 SoCon) at OrthoGeorgia Park on Saturday afternoon.

Decisive Plays:

Brant Baughcum blasted the Bears to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run (4). Braydon Kersey launched his first home run (8) of the day, a 398-foot shot to left field, in the very next at-bat. The score remained 3-0 until the third inning when Kersey blasted his second home run (9) of the day to left field. Later in the inning, Michael Graziano laced a double (7) down the third-base line that brought Titan Kamaka home from second base. The Citadel scored its first run of the series when Lane Tobin was plunked with a pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Graziano responded with a moonshot of a home run (3) in the home half of the frame to tack on two runs to the Bears' lead. The Bulldogs plated two runs in the top of the sixth off two errors. Kersey powered his third home run (10) of the day to deep left center field. The Citadel capped off the scoring in the ninth inning when Garrett Fulmer came home off a fielder's choice.

Notable Players:

Braydon Kersey: 4-for-5, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Miguel Hugas: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, 78 NP, W
Michael Graziano: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R
Reid Fagerstrom: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 30 NP

Noteworthy:

Braydon Kersey's three-homer performance marks the first time a Mercer Bear blasted three home runs in a single game since Ty Dalley against Seton Hall on March 28, 2024.
Miguel Hugas picked up his sixth win of the season and lowered his season ERA to 3.67. The junior transfer earned a win of each of his first six starts with a 2.38 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 34.1 innings. Hugas is tied for the most wins across Division I baseball with UCLA's Logan Reddemann.
Reid Fagerstrom looked electric across 2.1 innings of relief on Saturday. The senior reliever has not allowed an earned run since February 27 and bolsters a 2.25 ERA across 10 appearances this year.

Next Game:

The Bears conclude their first conference series with The Citadel on Sunday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Pitching matchups are TBD. Live stats will be available here. All games are broadcast on ESPN+. You can purchase tickets at mercerbears.com/tickets.