Box Score

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team stole 10 bases and collected 13 walks on its way to a 13-3 victory over Florida A&M on Tuesday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.

The win was Mercer's sixth-straight, its longest winning streak since March 2008, and improves its record to 10-4 on the season. The Bears 10-4 start is the team's best start over their first 14 games since 2005, when they went 11-3.

“We are just glad to keep this streak and momentum going,” head coach Craig Gibson said.

Sophomore Jacob Matthews got the start for Mercer and pitched 4.0 predetermined innings, allowing one earned run on just four hits to earn his first collegiate win.

“I am very proud and pleased with Jacob Matthews performance in picking up the win today in his first career start.”

The Bears got on the board first in the top of the first inning with four runs off Rattlers starter Eric Cotton. Sophomore Jacob Tanis hit a two-RBI single, junior Thomas Carroll followed with an RBI single and senior Nick DiMauro hit an RBI groundout to take a 4-0 lead.

Mercer put the game out of reach with a six run rally in the fourth inning, highlighted by two-RBI singles by Tanis and junior John Moreland.

Tanis finished his day going 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Evan Boyd had a solid game from his number nine spot in the batting order, going 2-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and two runs scored.

Five Bears stole two bases in the game, including sophomore Billy Burns who now has 16 steals in 14 games played this season.

“We are swinging the bats well right now and we hope to keep it going tomorrow and into the opening weekend of Atlantic Sun play.”

Mercer will be back in action on Wednesday night as it hosts the fourth ranked team in the nation, Georgia Tech, at Claude Smith Field. Game time is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.