Macon, Ga. – Florida A&M (1-5) couldn’t overcome eight Mercer (5-4) runs in the first two innings en route to a 10-2 loss at Claude Smith Field on Tuesday night. Jeremy Barlow went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Rattler offense, while Michael Birdsong also went 2-for-3. The Bears sent 22 batters to the plate over the first three innings, while the FAMU bullpen allowed just two runs over the final six innings.
Kendall Weeks (0-1) took the loss for Florida A&M after allowing eight runs (five earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
Mercer sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first on their way to an quick 3-0 lead. All three runs came with two outs. Kyle Lewis led off the Mercer first with a single up the middle, stole second and advanced to third as Nate Moorhouse flew out to center. Charlie Madden was hit-by-pitch and Howard Joe walked to load the bases with two outs. Devin Bonin’s two run single to left plated both Lewis and Madden for the first runs of the game. Trey Truitt followed with an RBI single to center that made the score 3-0.
The scoring continued for the Bears in the second inning. Lewis scored his second run of the game, on a solo home run over the fence in right, to increase Mercer’s lead to 4-0. Mercer scored four more runs (three unearned) to push the lead to 8-0. Two of the unearned runs came across after Marlon Gibbs dropped what would have been the third out of the inning in left field.
Florida A&M got on the board with two runs in the sixth inning for a score of 8-2. Ryan Kennedy singled to left with two outs and advanced to second on a balk. Gibbs then hit a grounder that went through the legs of Mercer shortstop Matt Meeder allowing Kennedy to score from second. Barlow’s RBI single plated Gibbs from second for the second run of the inning. Both runs were unearned.
Mercer added two more runs in the eighth inning for the final score of 10-2.
Grant Papelian (1-1) earned the win for the Bears. Papelian pitched five scoreless innings with four hits, three strikeouts and just one walk.
Wednesday’s game at Mercer has been postponed due to weather scheduled in the area.
*FAMU Sports Information
