Box Score

Macon, Ga. - Western Carolina tried to mount a ninth-inning rally on a rainy Sunday afternoon, getting a solo home run by Matt Smith and using back-to-back singles to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the final frame. However, the home-standing Mercer Bears were able to hold off the preseason favorite, claiming the three-game series with a 5-3 victory at Claude Smith Field.

Smith, who batted a sizzling .818 (9-for-11) in the series, capped a 2-for-2, three walk performance on Sunday with a solo homerun over the fence in right field to pull the Catamounts to within two runs in the top of the ninth inning. WCU then got back-to-back, two-out singles by team captains Bradley Strong and Danny Bermudez to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.

Mercer reliever D.J. Johnson got the ground ball out to end the threat, collecting his first save of the year in tossing just a third of an inning to secure the game - and series - win for the Bears.

Smith led three Catamounts with multi-hit games on the day with the 2-for-2 showing, adding a single to his ninth homer. Georgia native Bermudez delivered a run-scoring double as a part of a 2-for-5 day with Strong finishing 2-for-5, reaching on an error on a dropped fly ball to score one of his two runs.

Reece Strong drove in WCU's second run of the day, dropping a single into center field on a 1-for-3 performance at the plate. The junior from Richlands, Va., was also responsible for the only double-play of the day, turning a 5-3 twin-killing in the loss.

Catamount starter Korey Anderson (3-3) again battled through his Sunday start, striking out three against three walks in six and two-thirds innings of work. The Grayson, Ga., native allowed just four runs - two of which were earned - on only five hits, continually working around jams with help from his defense. Freshman Corey Sikes was tagged with a run after walking the one batter he faced with junior Colton Davis tossing the final inning and a third, striking out two with a walk of one-hit, scoreless relief.

Mercer (22-15, 9-3 SoCon) grabbed the early lead in the first inning as Matt Meeder drew a lead-off walk before advancing to third on a failed pick-off attempt. He was driven home on a RBI single through the left side by Kyle Lewis. However, Strong turned the double-play at third to limit the rally to the one marker.

The game stayed at one-run until the sixth inning when Bradley Strong reached on a dropped fly ball in left, ending the play at second base. Bermudez then one-hopped a double to the fence in right center to knot the game at one-apiece, but was ultimately stranded at third with the would-be, go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Mercer responded to reclaim the lead. Third baseman Danny Edgeworth was plunked to start the inning with an infield error allowing Jackson Ware to reach and advance to second moving Edgeworth to third. The Bears tried to squeeze the run in on a bunt up the third base line, but Reece Strong was able to field and shovel the ball home to prevent the runner from scoring.

However, despite the heroics on the bunt, Mercer's Howard Joe smacked the first pitch he saw into left field to bring in the Bears' second run to make it 2-1 through six complete.

Mercer tacked on three runs in the bottom of the seventh including a two-run home run by Devin Bonin with Ware collecting a RBI double to make it 5-1.

WCU closed to within three with a marker in the top of the eighth inning as Bradley Strong singled before scoring on a single by his younger brother, Reece, to make it 5-2 entering the ninth inning.

Mercer middle reliever Mitchell Wade (2-1) scored the victory out of the bullpen, striking out one in two thirds of an inning. The Bears turned to Friday's starter Eric Nyquist, who only lasted an inning and a third in the first game of the series, to open Sunday's finale. However, with rainy conditions that peppered the ballpark throughout the game, he was lifted after the first inning.

Normal Sunday starter Ryan Askew tossed four and two thirds innings in relief before giving way to Wade. Also throwing for Mercer was Austin Lord and Ben Lumsden, who struck out three while allowing one run on four hits in an inning and two thirds. Johnson got the final out in the ninth inning.

Meeder finished 2-for-4 to pace Mercer while Bonin plated two on his two-run home run. Ware and Howard Joe both collected RBI on hits on the day, Ware on the seventh-inning double.

Western Carolina (15-16, 7-5 SoCon) opens a busy week on the diamond Tuesday evening with a trip to Doug Kingsmore Stadium to face the Clemson Tigers with first pitch at 6:30 pm. On Wednesday, the Catamounts open a five-game homestand, hosting Tennessee Tech in Cullowhee before welcoming Furman to Childress Field / Hennon Stadium next weekend in league play.

Tuesday's game at Clemson will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network with live streaming audio through CatamountSports.com. Wednesday's game is slated to be broadcast with live video streaming through the SoCon Digital Network.