March 21, 2011

MACON, Ga. – Coming off its first three-game losing streak in almost a full calendar year, the Mercer baseball team returned to the winners circle with a 9-4 win over Florida A&M on Monday evening at Claude Smith Field.

 

It was a memorable night of sorts as two Mercer players set significant career milestones in the victory. Junior Billy Burns had a stolen base in the game to give him 50 career steals while classmate Jacob Tanis had an RBI single in the first inning to give 150 career runs batted in.

 

The Mercer offense wasted no time getting on the board, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 5-1 lead. Tanis' RBI single, a two-RBI single by sophomore Travis Benn, an RBI groundout by freshman Derrick Workman and an error accounted for the five runs in the frame.

 

After FAMU scraped together another run in the top of the second to make the score 5-2, Benn pushed the Mercer lead back to four runs, 6-2, with another RBI single in the bottom of the third.

 

Mercer starter Brandon Barker settled down from that point forward, overpowering the Rattlers hitters at times. The Etowah, Ga. native picked up the win, his second of the season, after allowing just the two runs on nine hits while striking out seven.

 

The Bears broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth with a little help from the long ball. Tanis and freshman Austin Barrett both hit solo home runs in the frame to push the home team's advantage up to 9-2.

 

Benn finished the evening going 2-for-3 with three RBI while senior Thomas Carroll went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.

 

The Orange and Black are right back at it tomorrow afternoon when it travels to Savannah to take on MEAC member Savannah State. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Grayson Stadium.