Braves Outlasted in Game Two at Mercer

MACON, Ga. – Miguel Hugas pitched five shutout innings and Braydon Kersey launched a solo home run as Mercer pulled away from Alcorn 10-5 Saturday afternoon at OrthoGeorgia Park, allowing the homestanding Bears to take the nonconference baseball series.
 
Miguel Hugas (4-0) was dominant through the first five frames, scattering five hits while striking out four and walking just one. He left with a 6-0 lead before Alcorn mounted a five-run sixth-inning rally that briefly made things interesting.
 
Mercer (13-2) wasted no time getting on the board.
 
In the bottom of the first, Chris Katz reached and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Eli Stephens singled to left, plating Katz on an error by the Alcorn outfield. Stephens then scored on a Dylan LaPointe single to give the Bears a 3-0 lead after one.
 
The Bears added to their advantage in the fourth when Katz doubled down the right field line to score Michael Graziano, making it 4-0.
 
Kersey put the game further out of reach in the fifth, depositing a solo shot to deep center field. Mercer tacked on an additional run in the inning when Parker Dastou singled home Devyn McEachron to push the lead to 6-0.
 
Alcorn (2-12) finally broke through in the sixth against Mercer relievers Aidan Hayse and Andrew Garnett.
 
Jaylyn Bennett was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a Keatan Hawk single. After Hayse was replaced by Garnett, Bonelli and Asher Friedman were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded, and a wild pitch allowed two more runs to score. Nico Garcia then drove a two-run single to center to cap the five-run frame and cut Mercer's lead to 6-5.
 
But Mercer answered immediately in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Alcorn reliever Devin Kriley allowed an unearned run on a fielding error by first baseman Jamir Hollway, and a balk later in the inning scored Stephens to push the lead back to 8-5.
 
The Bears put the game away in the eighth.
 
With one out, McEachron singled and Graziano followed with a two-run single to left that scored pinch runner Nathan Rowland and McEachron, extending the Mercer lead to 10-5.
 
Katz finished the day 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored to lead the Mercer offense. Stephens went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Graziano drove in two runs. Dastou added an RBI single.
 
For the Braves, Garcia went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Hawk also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Friedman added a pair of hits and an RBI as well.
 
Alcorn starter Kayden Sutton (0-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and five walks over five innings.
 
The teams meet back at OrthoGeorgia Park on Sunday for the series finale beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
 
Follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports) for all the latest news and updates. Follow us on Instagram (@AlcornSports) and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for even further behind-the-scenes action across all Braves Athletics.