ETSU baseball started a three-game series with Mercer on April 14, with the Bucs coming up just short in the first game, losing 5-3. In the second game of the series, Mercer was able to come away with a 13-2 win in seven innings of play.
Landon Smiddy (Knoxville, Tenn.) started the first game of the series on the mound, pitching five total innings, giving up six hits and striking out four. Colby Stuart (Elon, N.C.) came on in relief to pitch the next three innings. Stuart gave up two runs and struck out four.
ETSU came out swinging with back-to-back singles to start the game, but was unable to send anyone across home plate.
ETSU was down 5-0 heading into the seventh inning, but were poised for a comeback when Cody Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y) hit his first collegiate homer, making the score 5-2. Miller scored Tommy Barth (Brecksville, Ohio), who reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Miller singled to left field in the ninth inning and scored Jared Paladino (Levittown, N.Y.) to make the score 5-3 in Mercers favor. Despite the efforts from the team, it was not enough to overcome the lead Mercer established earlier in the game. Mercer took the first game of the series 5-3.
In the second game of the series, southpaw Austin Emener (Macon, Ga.) started on the mound for the Bucs. He pitched four innings and gave up eight runs with three strikeouts. ETSU was not able to get the bats hot in this game as Mercer had a 13-0 lead going into the seventh inning.
ETSU was able to put two runs on the board in the final inning of play. Garett Wallace (Sanford, Fla.) homered to right center with a runner on base to make the final score 13-2.
ETSU record now sits at 15-17 overall with a 2-6 conference record.
