Braves Finish Series at Mercer

MACON, Ga. – It was a difficult afternoon at OrthoGeorgia Park for Alcorn Baseball, as the Mercer Bears unleashed a 25-run offensive outburst to hand the Braves a 25-2 defeat on Sunday, March 8, in the final game of the three-game tilt in Macon, Georgia. With the win, Mercer sweeps the weekend series from the Purple and Gold.
 
The loss drops Alcorn State to 2-13 on the season, while Mercer improved to 14-2.
 
"Today wasn't the result we wanted, but we have to flush it and move on," stated Alcorn second-year head coach Carlton Hardy. "Our guys know what's in front of us – SWAC play is right around the corner, and that's what matters now."
 
Mercer (14-2) jumped on the board first in the home-half of the opening frame.
 
Bears designated hitter Braydon Kersey connected on a two-run home run to right center off Alcorn starter Yoni Castro, plating Brant Baughcum, who had reached on a hit by pitch in his earlier at-bat.
 
Mercer blew the game wide open in the second and third innings, erupting for six runs in each frame.
 
In the second, Parker Dastou singled to right field to score Dylan LaPointe, and a Kersey double to right center cleared the bases for three additional runs to cross. Eli Stephens added a run-scoring single to cap the six-run frame, pushing the Mercer lead to 8-0.
 
The third inning proved equally costly for the Alcorn pitching staff.
 
After Castro was replaced by Myles Dews, who could not record an out, Nicholas Johnson came on in relief. Stephens delivered the big blow of the inning, crushing a three-run home run to right field – his fifth of the season, pushing the Mercer advantage to 14-0 after three innings.
 
Alcorn (2-13) used six pitchers in total on the afternoon.
 
The Braves managed to avoid the shutout in the fourth inning, scratching out two runs.
 
Jaylyn Bennett doubled to left field and scored on a wild pitch, and Asher Friedman added an RBI single to right center to make it 14-2. However, Mercer answered immediately with four more in their half of the fourth, extending the lead to 18-2.
 
The Bears put the finishing touches on the rout with a seven-run sixth inning, highlighted by a string of walks, hit batters, and clutch situational hitting. Dastou, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a stolen base, was one of the offensive catalysts all afternoon. Luca Perriello and Greyson Gegg each added RBI in the big sixth via hit by pitches, and Gonzalez Gabe drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the scoring.
 
Mercer's Jess Ackerman earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with five strikeouts while allowing just two hits. Alcorn starter Castro took the loss, surrendering eight runs on four hits over two innings while issuing three walks and hitting three batters.
 
For the Purple and Gold, Bennett was the lone offensive bright spot, going 2-for-3 with a double. Friedman also had a hit and drove in the team's lone RBI on a base hit.
 
"We're going to get back to Lorman, fix the things we need to fix, and come out ready to compete," added Hardy. "This group has the character to bounce back, and I fully expect us to do just that."
 
Alcorn returns to the diamond Tuesday, March 10, when the Braves travel to Northwestern State for a single game at 6 p.m.
 
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