Mercer Hosts Florida A&M in Mid-Week Series

MACON, Ga. (MERCER RELEASE) – Coming off an opening weekend series sweep of High Point to kick off the 2014 season, the Mercer baseball team is back in action with a two-game mid-week series against Florida A&M starting on February 18 at Claude Smith Field.

Game one of the series is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday with game two scheduled for a 4 p.m. start on Wednesday.

Mercer (3-0) is trying to start a campaign with four-straight wins for the first time since the 2005 edition of the Bears started the season with six-straight victories.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Florida A&M started its 2014 season by taking two-of-three from the Naval Academy in Tallahassee. FAMU essentially shut down the Midshipmen bats, allowing just six earned runs over the three-game set. The Rattlers are led by first-year head coach Jamey Shouppe, who comes to FAMU after spending 21 years as an assistant coach at Florida State University. Florida A&M was picked to finish last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ poll after posting a 7-47 record last season. The Rattlers do return back one of their top hitters this season in junior Marlon Gibbs. Gibbs hit .364 last season and posted a .426 on-base percentage on his way to being named a MEAC All-Conference second team performer.

LAST TIME OUT

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer baseball team wrapped up a solid season opening weekend sweep of High Point thanks to a 4-3 series finale win on Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.

The Bears pitching staff was once again the story on Sunday as junior Eric Nyquist put together a strong start and classmate Ben Lumsden shut the door at the end to close out the win.

Senior Nick Backlund finished the day going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI while classmate Derrick Workman went 2-for-3 on the day as well with a single and a double.

Nyquist was the star of the game, however, picking up the win after throwing a career-high 5.2 innings and allowing just the one run on four hits to go along with four strikeouts.

FAST FACTS

– Mercer has a 74-24-1 lead in the all-time series over Florida A&M. Mercer had won 17-straight contests in the series before the Rattlers broke the streak with an 11-5 win over the Bears in Tallahassee last season.

– The Bears are one of only 41 clubs in the country to start the 2014 season with a 3-0 record or better.

– Through the first weekend of play, Mercer ranks second in the A-Sun with a 2.33 team ERA and tied for third with only seven walks allowed.