MARIETTA, Ga. - A four-run first inning wasn't enough to lift the Owls over the Mercer Bears in Wednesday night's midweek clash at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field. 

Bayer started the game with a four-pitch strikeout. After allowing two runners to reach, he forced a fly out and rang up the final batter of the inning.

The Owl bats got hot early as they exploded for four runs on four hits beginning with a leadoff double from Chris Cole. Kaden Brown and Jackson Bradfield both lined the ball through the middle with Brown bringing home Evan Holstein and Cole while Bradfield scored Nate Anderson and Kaden Brown.

Two errors allowed two runs to come across for the Bears in the third inning chipping the Owl lead to two runs.

It all came unraveled in the fifth inning when the Bears posted six runs, taking the lead from the Owls and never looking back. The score finalized at 9-4 in favor of the MErcer Bears. 

Spotlight Performances

• Freshman Ty Bayer tallied his first career start on the mound
• Catcher Holstein registered his first start behind the plate while Corey Berry II earned his first start as an Owl
• Outfielder Jackson Bradfield made his collegiate debut with a start in right field and collected his first hit and RBI
• Agyei Quinichett and Jackson Abernathy made their season debuts
• Ethan Osada carved in his first appearance as an Owl going one hitless inning
• Owl batters took seven walks highlighted by Kaden Brown a Donovan Cash who both had two

Next Up
It's a three-game home weekend series to close out an eight-game homestand as they take on the Columbia Lions starting Friday at 4 p.m. 
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