SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the series finale, Austin Liput (Oviedo, Fla.) picked up his eighth triple of the season to notch the game at 3-3, but Mercer rallied for a 5-3 win over the Spartans. USC Upstate dropped the first contest to the Bears by a score of 11-3.
With the twinbill sweep, Mercer improves to 33-17 overall and now sits 15-11 in the Atlantic Sun, while Upstate dips to 17-35 on the season and 8-17 in league play.
Mercer 11, Upstate 3 (DH Game 1)
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second inning, USC Upstate scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take its first lead of the series. With one out in the inning, Tyler Miller (Fort Mill, S.C.) hit a solo home run over the wall in left to tie the game at 1-1. Anthony Vacca (Fonthill, Ontario) later drove in Austin Liput, putting the Spartans in front, 2-1.
Mercer notched the game at 2-2 in the top of the third when Joe Winker was able to score on a throwing error by Luke Weber.
The Spartans pushed back in front, 3-2, in the home half of the fourth when Gaither Bumgardner (Fort Lawn, S.C.) delivered an RBI single to center field that allowed Vacca to score from second.
The Bears were able to tie the game at three apiece in the fifth when Jacob Tanis drove in Evan Boyd with a RBI single to right field.
Mercer was able to take its first run of the contest in the seventh when Derrick Workman delivered a two-out two-RBI single up the middle. Tanis and Thomas Carroll scored on Workman's single, giving the Bears a 5-3 advantage.
The Bears surged ahead thanks to a six-run eighth inning and set the final tally at 11-3. DJ Johnson highlighted the Mercer eighth with a two-RBI single that allowed Austin Barrett and John Moreland to come around to score.
Neither starting pitcher received a decision in Sunday's contest. Upstate starter Scott DeCecco (Cape May Courthouse, N.J.) pitched five complete innings and allowed three runs on five hits and five walks with three strike outs. Mercer starting pitcher Russell Moses lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and two strike outs.
Mercer relief pitcher David Teasley (6-4) earned the win after tossing 85 pitches in 6.1 innings of work. Teasley allowed just one run on four hits with one strike out and one walk.
Upstate's Andrew Wyant (Newton, N.C.) took the loss and falls to 2-5 on the season. Wyant allowed two runs on four hits in two innings of work.
Bumgardner and Vacca led the Spartans with 2-for-4 efforts at the plate. Vacca drove in one run and scored another while Bumgardner tallied one RBI.
Tanis led the Bears with a 3-for-5 performance with two runs and two RBI.
Mercer 5, Upstate 3 (DH Game 2)
In the top of the first inning, Mercer scored a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Billy Burns and Joe Winker both scored (unearned) in the inning.
Mercer increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third. After a leadoff double by Winker, Jacob Tanis drove home Winker with a RBI single up the middle.
Upstate finally broke through in the sixth inning and cut the deficit to just one run. Branden Millhouse (Summerville, S.C.) advanced to third on Gaither Bumgardner's bunt single and scored on a throwing error by Mercer third baseman, Jacob Tanis. Blake Green scored the second run of the inning when Austin Liput grounded into a double play.
Upstate tied the game in the home half of the eighth inning when Bumgardner scored on Liput's triple to right field. Liput's eighth triple of the season tied a single-season record (Chris Sturgill, 1988).
The Bears opened the ninth with a single, but the Spartans appeared to hold Mercer in check until Winker sent a two-out two-run homer over the wall in right, giving it a 5-3 lead.
Dillon Way (Orangeburg, S.C.) singled to open the ninth inning, but the Spartans were then retired via two strike outs and a pop out to end the game.
Mercer relief pitcher JT Odom (2-1) earned the win after allowing just one run on three hits with four strike outs over the final 2.1 innings. Upstate's Jake Waller (0-2) was credited with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in the final three frames.
Green, Bumgardner and Way led the Spartans as they each tallied two hits in the finale. Joe Winker led the Bears with a 3-for-5 effort with three runs and two RBI.
The Spartans will wrap-up the season next weekend when they travel to Buies Creek, N.C., for a three-game set at Campbell. The series begins with a doubleheader on Thursday at 4:00 p.m., followed by a single game on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
