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Tech Falters at Home in 6-2 Loss to Mercer

March 21, 2018

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Box Score 

THE FLATS – On an unusual frigid spring night in Atlanta, Georgia, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t get their bats going in a 6-2 loss to in-state foe Mercer University on Wednesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium.

The loss drops Tech to 12-9 overall on the season and 2-1 versus teams from the state of Georgia this year. With the win, the Bears improve to 17-5 on the season.

Neither’s team offense could get started on Wednesday night, as the two teams combined for just 11 base hits for the nine-inning affair. In fact, the two teams combined for more walks with 14 than they did hits.

Tech, who registered a season-low five hits on the night, were led by redshirt sophomore Tristin English (2-for-5), sophomore Chase Murray (1-for-4, BB, run), junior Joey Bart (1-for-5, 2B, RB) and freshman Oscar Serratos (1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI). The home run was the first of Serratos’ career at Tech.

The Bears had just one more hit than the Jackets, as Drew Lingo (2-for-4, 2 runs) had two hits on the night. Jackson Ware (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) and David Posas (0-for-3, 2 sacrifice flies, 2 RBIs) each drove in two RBIs apiece in the win.

Mercer’s Robert Broom (4-0) entered the game out of the bullpen in the fourth inning to pick up the win, as the submarine-style pitcher struck out three and only walked two over 3.1-hitless innings.

Making his first career start for the Jackets, freshman Will Shirah (0-1) was handed the loss. The lefty gave up three runs on three walks, three hits and one strikeout over the first 1.2 innings of the game.

While the offense struggled, the Tech bullpen pitched well, as the Jacket arms gave up just three runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out seven Mercer batters over 7.1 innings.

In fact, the Jackets held Mercer hitless over the final five innings of the contest.

Mercer took an early 3-0 lead into the third inning, as the Bears scored two runs in the top of the first on a two-run double by Ware and then added a run in the second on a Posas sacrifice fly.

The White and Gold got one run back in the bottom of the third on a solo home run over the right field wall by Serratos, yet stranded two more runners on base to put the score at 3-1 in favor of the visitors after three innings of play.

The Bears answered with a three-run fourth on an RBI single by Kyle Dockus and two sacrifice flies to extend its lead out to five at 6-1 midway through the fourth.

While Mercer wouldn’t record another hit for the rest of the game, the Jackets were unable to take advantage, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, and stranding one runner in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings.

Down to their final three outs of the game in the bottom of the ninth, Murray and Bart hit back-to-back doubles with the latter scoring Murray from second to put the home team down just four at 6-2.

However, the next two batters would pop out and fly out to end the game.

Despite eight walks, the Jackets left 11 runners on base for the game, while Mercer stranded eight overall.

The Yellow Jackets (12-9, 2-4 ACC) hit the road for cross-divisional ACC play at No. 10 NC State (18-3, 5-1 ACC) this weekend in Raleigh, N.C. First game is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.

Freshman Hugh Chapman was one of six pitchers out of the Tech bullpen that held Mercer hitless over the final five innings of the game on Wednesday night.#TogetherWeSwarm pic.twitter.com/K1wN9tgFRh

— GeorgiaTech Baseball (@GTBaseball) March 22, 2018

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