TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 21) - Mercer University scored four runs in the fourth as they handed the Florida A&M Baseball team an 8-2 loss in their 2012 home opener, here Tuesday, afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field.
Mercer (4-1) pounded out 12 hits, with Logan Gaines recording a game-high three hits to lead the Bears.
FAMU (1-2) tallied five hits as John Scott finished with a team high two hits to lead the Rattlers.
Dawson Brown (1-0) picked up the win for Mercer as he gave up four hits and struck out five in four and two-thirds innings. Thomas Barwick (0-1) received the loss as he gave up two hits and one earned run in one-third innings.
The Bears went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning as Evan Boyd scored on a Nick Backlund single. Mercer added to their lead in the top of the third inning as Logan Gaines hit a towering home run to left field, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead.
FAMU pushed across a run in the bottom of the third as Ryan Sheplak scored on a Scott ground out to the shortstop, cutting the Bears' lead to 2-1.
The Bears increased their lead to 6-1 as Mercer scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Jared Walker cut the Bears lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning as he scored on a Scott single .
Mercer picked up two more runs in the top of the sixth inning for the 8-2 finale.
The Rattlers will concluded their two-game series with Mercer on Wednesday, February 22 at Moore-Kittles Field in a 4 p.m. start.
