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Pirates Outslug Mercer In Series Opener, 11-10


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Macon, Ga. -- The Seton Hall baseball team used 16 hits and 11 runs to take the series opener from Mercer as the Pirates defeated the Bears, 11-10, on Thursday afternoon.

Cole Zak (Cleveland, Ohio) hit his first home run of the season and provided key insurance runs in the top of the eighth with a two-run double. Devin Hack (Somerville, N.J.) returned to the leadoff spot for the Pirates (15-11) and he went 4-for-6 with two RBI. Andrew Bianco (Kings Park, N.Y.) and Max Viera (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.) both collected three hits. Anthony Ehly (Glenside, Pa.) had five strikeouts in a four-inning start and Jay Allmer (Asheville, N.C.) recorded his second save of the season.

How It Happened

After Mercer crossed the plate in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead, the Pirates answered with five runs in the top half of the second. Bianco got it started with a game-tying, run-scoring double and Hack later drove in two runs on a base hit to center field that plated both Zak and Bianco. With two down, Staus Pokrovsky (Pittsgrove, N.J.) drove in two more Seton Hall with a double down the left field line that made it 5-1 Pirates.

Ehly tossed a scoreless second inning before Zak's solo home run in the top half of the third made it 6-1 in favor of Seton Hall. After putting up another zero in the bottom of the third, Ehly ran into trouble in the home half of the fourth as Mercer put two runs on the scoreboard with a pair of solo home runs that cut its deficit in half. The Hall would tally runs in the fifth and six innings but the Bears answered with the long ball on their trips to the dish.

Mercer made it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh, 8-7, but the Pirates posted another big inning in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded and one out, Danny Melnick (Hamilton, N.J.) gave the Pirates a 9-7 lead on a sacrifice fly that scored Pokrovsky. The next batter was Zak who served an opposite field double to the left center field gap that scored two runs and extended Seton Hall's lead to 11-7.

Despite the Bears making it a one-run game and getting the tying run on third in the bottom of the ninth inning, Allmer came on in relief and was able to retire the side to nail down the win.

Up Next

Game two is scheduled for tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Al-Amir Dawes

We all know Dawes had tough start to the season in the non-conference and heard about it on this site, but he rebounded to have a really good year and deserves some props for that.

Plus you can see why Holloway values his work ethic and toughness in setting an example for the program culture. And he played really well for us in big spots this year.

He’s gone out on a high note with the NIT run at Walsh, hope he can add the tournament championship to that!

👏

How are we cultivating the good NIL (not PFP)?

Since we know we’re not going to be able to raise significant funds to help with the PFP NIL, what else can be done for what I would call legit NIL which would be via endorsements from sponsors? I still don’t get why Under Armour can’t do more to help us out by providing more opportunities for student athletes and also how we can find more sponsors?

I realize this isn’t easy, but with Social Media providing so many ways to earn $, there’s got to be more things that can be done.

BU Hoops Forum

I was just on the BU hoops forum. They say Hinkle is sold out for our game with Georgia. Big BE contingent. They are saying they will be really loud for us. Respect! They say it will be tough against Indiana State. They are only 70 miles away. One game at a time. The guys on the Butler forum are predicting at least 80% pro SHU Go Pirates! 🏴‍☠️
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