MACON, Ga. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team was defeated 3-2 by Mercer at Claude Smith Field in the second game of the weekend series. The Bears had a 2-0 lead after six innings on a pair of solo home runs. Wofford got a run on the board in the seventh, but Mercer responded with a run in the eighth. The Terriers scored once in the ninth, but left two runners on base at the end of the game.
 
Wofford is now 15-9 on the season and 0-2 in the Southern Conference. Mercer is 19-5 overall and 2-0 in league play. McClain Bradley had two of the Terriers five hits in the game, while Andrew Orzel and Max McDougald had RBIs. The Bears were held to three hits, including solo home runs by J.T. Thomas and Kyle Dockus.
 
The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the first inning. With two outs in the bottom of the first for the Bears, J.T. Thomas hit a solo home run for a 1-0 lead. Wofford went in order in the top of the second and a double play ended the bottom half for Mercer. The Terriers were retired in order in the top of the third and the Bears had a single with two outs in the bottom of the third, but the runner was stranded.
 
McClain Bradley had the first hit of the game for the Terriers with one out in the top of the fourth inning. He stole second, but was left on base. In the bottom of the fourth, Mercer had two runners on base after walks before a strikeout ended the inning. Wofford went in order again in the top of the fifth inning. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Kyle Dockus hit a solo home run for a 2-0 lead for the Bears.
 
Alex Malsch walked with one out in the top of the sixth inning and stole second base. Malsch was on third after a ground out, but a fly ball ended the scoring chance. Mercer went in order to end the sixth inning. Mack Nathanson led off the seventh inning with an infield single. With one out, a double just inside the line in right field by Andrew Orzel scored Nathanson for a 2-1 game. Orzel was left on second base at the seventh inning stretch.
 
Mercer left one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth with two out, Brett Rodriguez walked and McClain Bradley singled. A strikeout ended the top half for Wofford. Mercer had one out in the bottom of the eighth when three straight walks loaded the bases. A ground out plated a run for a 3-1 lead and a ground out stranded two runners at the end of the eighth. Cody Miller was hit by a pitch to start the ninth inning and Reed Massey pinch ran. With two outs and Massey on second, a single by Max McDougald scored Massey for a 3-2 score. Lawson Hill drew a pinch hit walk, but a strikeout ended the game.
 
Adam Scott (3-2) started for the Terriers and went 7.1 innings with three runs allowed on three hits. He had seven strikeouts, giving him 307 for his career to tie the school record held by Matt Milburn (2013-16). Anthony Garcia threw two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit.
 
Mercer starting pitcher Chase Burks (4-1) threw 6.1 innings with one run allowed on three hits, along with three strikeouts. Robert Broom worked 2.1 innings with one run allowed on two hits, while striking out two. Christian Vann earned the save by getting a strike out in the top of the ninth.
 
Wofford and Mercer conclude the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.