Bears Drop Heartbreaker to Savannah State, 4-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team battled late, but eventually lost a tough 4-3 non-conference contest to Savannah State on Wednesday afternoon at Grayson Stadium.

The Bears had runners on second and third with an opportunity to win the game in the ninth inning, but sophomore Jacob Tanis got picked off second base for the final out of the game to end the rally.

Mercer falls to 16-12 overall, while Savannah State improves to 11-13 on the season with the win.

"We had a bunch of opportunities throughout the game and with two outs, but we just couldn't take advantage of them," head coach Craig Gibson said. "We have to realize that every pitch, every batter and every game means something for this club."

Junior Justice French took the ball for Mercer and put together his best outing of the season. The Suwanee, Ga. native pitched 6.2 innings and allowed four runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits while striking out two in the loss.

"I am very proud of the way Justice pitched today," said Gibson. "He pitched a great game and gave us a chance to pull out the win in the end.

It came down to the end and the final two innings against the Tigers, who built up a 4-1 lead going into the eighth. Mercer started the frame by loading the bases after walks by Tanis and senior Nick DiMauro and a double by junior Thomas Carroll. With two outs, junior Joe Winker stepped to the plate and ripped a bases clearing double to right field to bring the Bears within a run, at 4-3.

The Orange and Black started to mount another rally in the ninth when senior Tyler McCarty reached base on a passed ball strikeout and Tanis singled, but senior Michael Allegretti wheeled around and picked off Tanis at second base to end the game.

Carroll and senior Michael Langley each had multi-hit games for Mercer, with two apiece.

Savannah State starter Eric Ransom worked five innings and allowed no runs on just five hits to pick up the win.

"Both teams played a good game tonight, but we need to learn from this and get ready to take on a tough FGCU club on the road this weekend," said Gibson.

Mercer will return to action on Friday night when it travels to Fort Myers, Fla. to take on FGCU in the Atlantic Sun Series of the Week. Game time is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.