MACON – Charleston Southern took the series opener from Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park on Friday night on the road. The game saw five solo home runs get scored, but the Bucs' having the final one and coming away with the hard fought 5-4 victory.
The Bears were able to get an early lead courtesy of the first two home runs of the day, both were solo shots, pushing Mercer ahead at 2-0.
Charleston Southern got the first run back of the day in the third with
Kain Collins having a single to center to score
Blake Edgmon after his triple to deep left center.
AJ Martin led the fourth off with a homer to left field to draw the game even at two apiece.
Mercer was able to regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth with another solo home run, pulling ahead at 3-2.
In the sixth, the Buccaneers were able to claim their first lead of the day.
Aidan McAskie had a single to center field that was able to score
Kaden Smith and
Nathan Martinez who were each in scoring position.
The lead was short lived as the Bears had an RBI groundout to McAskie at first that was able to score the runner from third.
With each of the teams now using one of their top bullpen arms, they continued to dazzle even more than the starters. Mercer's pitcher was dealing until
Lew Rice had a solo home run over the fence in right field in the ninth inning which proved to be the difference at 5-4. This was the only homer of the five of the day that did not go to left field.
Ryan Cole had the start and received a no decision in it. He had 7.0 innings of work, the most by a CSU pitcher so far this season. He allowed four runs, five hits and three walks during his time on the mound and struck out three batters, needing just 93 pitches against his 28 batters faced.
Kyle Lewis picked up the victory tossing 2.0 perfect innings. He retired all six batters that he faced and struck out four of them.
At the plate, Collins and Edgmon led the team with two hits each. Rice reached base the most with a hit and two walks drawn, the Bucs' lone two of the day. As a team, they reached base 13 times with 10 hits, two walks and a hit by pitch.
The Buccaneers and Bears will return to OrthoGeorgia Park tomorrow afternoon for a 2 p.m. first pitch. The series will come to an end on Sunday with the teams traveling back to Charleston with first pitch for that contest slated for 3 p.m. at Nielsen Field @ CSU Ballpark.
