April 19, 2011
MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored four runs with two outs, and used a strong outing from its bullpen for a 6-3 win over No. 9 Georgia Tech Tuesday at Claude Smith Field in Macon, Ga.
Mercer (25-15) used a three-run first inning, and added three more in the fifth off of Tech starter Matthew Grimes for a sweep in the two game series for the Bears. Georgia Tech (27-11) fell to 6-5 in midweek games on the year.
Grimes (5-2) lost for just the second time this season, allowing a career-high six runs (four earned) on six hits. He had four strike outs and issued two walks.
Mercer plated four of the six runs with two outs, two of them coming John Moreland’s two-out double in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. Grimes issued two walks that eventually led to runs in the frame.
A run scoring single by sophomore Sam Dove, and a sac fly to centerfield by freshman Zane Evans would pull the Jackets within one, at 3-2 in the fourth inning.
Grimes settled down and retired 12 of the next 14 batters after allowing the three runs in the first. He got a popup from Mercer’s Joe Winker for out number two in the fifth inning, but Mercer’s Jacob Tanis doubled on the next at-bat to give the home side a 4-2 lead.
The Bears added another run on a two-out throwing error by Tech’s Evans from the plate before a double by Austin Barrett in the same inning made it 6-2.
Mercer starter Matthew McCall (3-1) earned the win while working on a pitch count. McCall yielded two runs on six hits over three innings. D.J. Johnson earned the save for the Bears, holding the Jackets hitless over 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Evans singled home a run for the Jackets in the sixth inning, but Mercer’s J.T. Odom combined with Johnson to hold Tech without a run over the final 3 2/3 innings.
Dove was 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Jackets at the plate.
Georgia Tech freshman reliever and Macon native DeAndre Smelter made his first appearance on the mound in exactly a month after missing action due to a minor injury. Smelter worked a perfect 1 2/3 innings of relief, striking out two batters on the night.
Georgia Tech will continue ACC play this weekend, hosting Boston College for a three-game series at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
