BOX SCORE (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Will Abbott had a career afternoon setting personal records of innings pitched and strikeouts in The Citadel baseball team's 5-3 loss to No. 27 Mercer on Saturday at Joe Riley Park.

After allowing two runs in the opening frame, Abbott dominated one of the top offensive teams in the country for the following seven innings. The freshman recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in his longest start as a Bulldog, throwing 8.1 innings.

The score remained tied 3-3 from the fourth to ninth inning as Abbott continued to match Mercer's pitching staff late into the game.

After the leadoff man reached on an error in the top of the ninth, the Bears scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch on a swinging strikeout with two outs. Reliever Marlin Morris' curve ball appeared to touch the swinging Bears' hitter Alex Crotty, but after an umpire's discussion, Crotty was ruled safe at first allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Taylor Cothran and Barrett Charpia led the offense in a big way, each finishing with three hits. The combo accounted for six of the Bulldogs' eight hits and scored all three runs for The Citadel. The three-hit day was the second in as many games for Cothran. Cole Buffington had an RBI sacrifice fly, while Jonathan Sabo and J.D. Davis added hits.

The Citadel (12-24, 3-8 SoCon) wraps up its series with Mercer on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon with lives stats and video available at CitadelSports.com.

Scoring Summary
Top 1st – Mercer 1, The Citadel 0: Alex Hanson scored on a single to right field by Danny Edgeworth with one out.
Top 1st – Mercer 2, The Citadel 0: JT Thomas scored on a single to left field by Charlie Madden with one out.
Bottom 2nd – Mercer 2, The Citadel 1: Taylor Cothran scored on a double right-center field by Barrett Bottom 2nd – Mercer 2, The Citadel 2: Barrett Charpia scored from third on a wild pitch with one out.
Top 3rd – Mercer 3, The Citadel 2: Ryan Hagan scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Danny Edgeworth with one out.
Bottom 4th – Mercer 3, The Citadel 3: Taylor Cothran scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Cole Buffington with one out.
Top 9th – Mercer 4, The Citadel 3: David Posas scored on a strikeout wild pitch with two outs.
Top 9th – Mercer 5, The Citadel 3: Conrad Cornell scored on a double down the left-field line by Ryan Hagan with two outs.

For more information on The Citadel baseball follow @CitadelBaseball or visit CitadelSports.com.