MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored five runs over the first two innings Thursday and held on for a 5-2 win in the opener of a three-game series.
Mercer improved its record to 6-0. The Cougars slipped to 1-3.
"We obviously didn't get off to a good start in any facet of the game," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We had some miscues that hurt us in the first."
Mercer scored three times on four hits in the first inning against SIUE starter Noah Matheny. The Bears were helped out by a mis-played fielder's choice and a wild pitch.
Mercer scored twice in the second inning without a hit. The Bears were helped by two fielding errors in the inning by the Cougars.
SIUE's only two runs came in the third on a pair of solo home runs by Avery Owusu-Asiedu and Brett Pierson. Josh Ohl added a one-out double in the inning, but he was stranded on base.
"Offensively, our only real noise we made were the two homers in the third inning," Lyons said. "They both put good swings on fastballs.
Matheny worked five innings, allowing all five runs. Three of which were earned. He gave up four hits and struck out one.
"It was a bit of a grind for Noah, but we didn't help him out defensively either," Lyons said. "But he settled in and was really good from the third through the fifth."
Kaid Karned worked the final three innings, allowing just a single hit and striking out three.
"Kaid Karnes was really good out of the bullpen for the second week in a row," Lyons said.
Trailing 5-2 after three innings we liked our chances at that point," Lyons said. "But we just weren't able to get a threat going. We had too many strikeouts at the plate."
SIUE managed just one hit the rest of the game, a single from Ohl in the eighth inning.
Mercer starter Josh Harlow worked six innings, allowing both runs, but striking out eight SIUE hitters. Mercer reliever Jackson Kelley earned the save with three scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out six.
"Gove credit to Kelley, he really held us at bay," Lyons said.
Five different players had Mercer's five hits.
The Cougars and Bears will play the second game of the series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. central time. Brant Glidewell will start for SIUE.
"We just have to be ready to get after it tomorrow," Lyons added.
