MACON, Ga. – Mercer scored eight runs in the seventh and eighth inning Saturday to come from behind to defeat SIUE 10-6 in the second game of a three-game series.
The Bears four home runs in their final two at-bats, including three in the bottom of the eighth inning.
"It was a tough loss," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We just weren't able to finish with the lead late. Credit to Mercer, they got the ball rolling and we couldn't stop it."
SIUE drops to 1-5. Mercer is now 7-0.
Josh Ohl and Brett Johnson blasted back-to-back home runs to start the game for the Cougars. Following a single by Connor Kiffer and a walk by Avery Owusu-Asiedu, Matthew Klein drove a two-out, two-run single to right to put the Cougars up 4-0.
"We got off to a great start with the back-to-back home runs and then Klein's hit was a big one," Lyons said.
Kiffer doubled in the second inning to drive in Ohl to extend SIUE's lead to 5-0. It was 5-2 SIUE when Johnson went deep for his second home run of the day in the sixth inning.
"Getting Brett going with two homers is big," Lyons added.
Angelo DiSpigna hit a two-run home run off SIUE reliever Jake Bockenstedt to trim the lead to 6-4 in the seventh. The Bears exploded for six runs on five hits in the eighth. Le Bassett homered following a walk Colby Thomas hit a three-run home runs following a hit and a walk and DiSpigna followed with his second home run.
"You give up a couple of walks and a couple of home runs and we're tie," Lyons said. "We just weren't able to stop the bleeding."
Bockenstedt allowed a total of six runs on three hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.
"Bock just didn't have it today," Lyons said.
Kyle Dixon allowed two runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning.
"Mercer is good. The ball carries at the ballpark," Lyons said. "They just needed a little momentum."
Bockenstedt and Dixon followed Brant Glidewell, who went six innings in the start. He allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out six.
"Brant Glidewell pitched really well," Lyons said. "He did an excellent job mixing his speeds and keeping their hitters off balance."
The Cougars left 10 runners on base, including in the eighth inning when they left the bases loaded.
"We weren't able to get a little more separation," Lyons said. "That would have been big to pick up more there in the eighth."
Johnson finished with four hits including the pair of home runs. Ohl finished with four hits and two runs and has six hits so far in the series.
"Josh has been putting up quality at-bats," Lyons said. "He's done a really nice job since being moved to the top of the order."
Kiffer had a pair of hits had a run scored.
DiSpigna, Collin Price and William Maples each had two hits for Mercer.
SIUE and Mercer will complete the series Sunday. First pitch has been moved up to 10 a.m. CT because of possible weather issues.
