CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel had a 7-4 lead heading into the eighth inning, but Mercer tallied five runs in the eighth and ninth innings to take the series finale 9-7 on Saturday afternoon inside Joe Riley Park.
Score: Mercer 9, The Citadel 7
Records: The Citadel (13-12, 2-1 SoCon), Mercer (16-9, 1-2 SoCon)
Location: Joe Riley Park (Charleston, South Carolina)
How It Happened
- Mercer scored the game's first run in the third inning with an RBI single from Drew Johnson.
- The Citadel scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Phillips Daniels hit an RBI double down the right-field line, bringing in Aryan Patel.
- Lane Tobin recorded the second run with a fielder's choice RBI, allowing TJ Anderson to score, giving the Bulldogs the first lead of the game at 2-1.
- Garrett Dill flew out to center field for the sacrifice fly RBI, scoring Daniels to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 advantage.
- Matthew Lively recorded an RBI single to right field to extend the Bulldogs lead to 4-1.
- Mercer responded in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run from Brant Baughcum to narrow The Citadel's lead to just one at 4-3.
- The Bulldogs scored three additional runs in the fourth inning with a fielder's choice RBI from Anderson, an RBI double from Daniels, and an RBI single from Travis Elliott to give the Bulldogs a four-run lead at 7-3.
- Mercer was held scoreless until the sixth inning when the Bears recorded an RBI single to third to narrow the Bulldogs lead to 7-4.
- Mercer scored five runs in the last two innings of the game to overcome a three-run deficient to take the lead in the ninth at 9-7.
- The Bulldogs had an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded but could not score as Mercer would win 9-7.
Inside the Box Score
- The Citadel scored seven runs on ten hits.
- Three Bulldogs recorded a multi-hit day. It is the third straight game The Citadel had three or more in the lineup record multiple hits.
- Phillips Daniels recorded two doubles and two RBIs. Daniels has four doubles and ten RBIs on the season.
- Travis Elliott went 2-for-3 with a run batted in. He also drew two walks.
- Tyler Christmas came in for Lively and went 2-for-2 and an HBP. His first two-hit game of the season.
- Anthony Hausner (1-2) recorded the loss for The Citadel after surrendering three earned runs on three hits.
- Terry Busse (1-0) won after throwing 2.0 innings with zero earned.
On Deck
The Citadel will meet the College of Charleston Cougars on March 25 for a midweek game inside Joe Riley Park. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.