Post by The Cats on May 4, 2022 20:57:36 GMT -5
The Cats remain in Cullowhee after a midweek game with USC Upstate to face the league-leading Mercer Bears. The first two games of the weekend series are slated for online audio-only broadcasts on the Catamount Sports Network with Sunday's game on ESPN+ broadcast (paid subscription required).
Who: Mercer Bears
When: Friday - Sunday, May 6-8, 2022
Time: 5:00 pm; 2:00 pm; 1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network (Friday & Saturday)
TV/Video: ESPN+ (Sunday Only)
Live Stats: WCU Live stats
Nickname: Bears
Colors: Black & Orange
Fan Message Board: MU Bear Down
Head Coach: Craig Gibson. Since taking over for the legendary Barry Myers in 2004, Gibson (591-407) has guided the Bears from the depths of the Atlantic Sun Conference to the top of the Southern Conference, all while establishing Mercer as one of the most respected programs in the southeast. Consistency has become the standard under Gibson, as Mercer is one of just three NCAA Division I programs with 35 wins in each of the last ten years, joining LSU and Vanderbilt.
Moranda's record vs. Mercere: 10-14
Gibson's record vs. WCU: 13-9
Mercer's 2022 record: 35-9 overall, 22-4 home, 13-5 away, 0-0 neutral court, 9-3 SoCon
Mercer's 2021 record: 35-22 overall, 21-8 home, 14-12 away, 0-2 neutral, 18-9 SoCon
The Series: The Cats have a 10-14 overall record against the Bears, and are 2-8 in games played in Cullowhee. The Cats are only 1-4 against the Bears in the last 5 games played and are currently on a 3-game skid to the Bears dropping all three games last season.
The Bears are coming off a series win in Johnson City over the ETSU Bucs. On the mound, the Bears boast the most victories in the SoCon this season – 34 – with the best collective earned run average at 4.35 and lowest opponent batting average at .246 overall, limiting the opposition to just 369 combined hits to rank second in the SoCon. Mercer pitchers have combined for 437 strikeouts, tops in the league, with WCU ranked third with 394 K's on the season.
Projected Starting Pitcher Matchups:
Friday, May 6 | 5:00 p.m.
Mercer – RHP Ryan Lobus (5-2, 3.04 ERA; 56.1 IP, 55K, 16 BB)
WCU – RHP Zach Franklin (4-1, 2.20 ERA; 45.0 IP, 52K, 10 BB)
Saturday, May 7 | 2:00 p.m.
Mercer – RHP Josh Farmer (5-0, 3.83 ERA; 47.0 IP, 39K, 15 BB)
WCU – RHP Gavin Mortenson (3-7, 5.76 ERA; 54.2 IP, 43K, 22 BB)
Sunday, May 8 | 1:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+
Mercer – RHP Josh Harlow (6-2, 4.78 ERA; 52.2 IP, 67K, 20 BB)
WCU – TBA
Who: Mercer Bears
When: Friday - Sunday, May 6-8, 2022
Time: 5:00 pm; 2:00 pm; 1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network (Friday & Saturday)
TV/Video: ESPN+ (Sunday Only)
Live Stats: WCU Live stats
Nickname: Bears
Colors: Black & Orange
Fan Message Board: MU Bear Down
Head Coach: Craig Gibson. Since taking over for the legendary Barry Myers in 2004, Gibson (591-407) has guided the Bears from the depths of the Atlantic Sun Conference to the top of the Southern Conference, all while establishing Mercer as one of the most respected programs in the southeast. Consistency has become the standard under Gibson, as Mercer is one of just three NCAA Division I programs with 35 wins in each of the last ten years, joining LSU and Vanderbilt.
Moranda's record vs. Mercere: 10-14
Gibson's record vs. WCU: 13-9
Mercer's 2022 record: 35-9 overall, 22-4 home, 13-5 away, 0-0 neutral court, 9-3 SoCon
Mercer's 2021 record: 35-22 overall, 21-8 home, 14-12 away, 0-2 neutral, 18-9 SoCon
The Series: The Cats have a 10-14 overall record against the Bears, and are 2-8 in games played in Cullowhee. The Cats are only 1-4 against the Bears in the last 5 games played and are currently on a 3-game skid to the Bears dropping all three games last season.
The Bears are coming off a series win in Johnson City over the ETSU Bucs. On the mound, the Bears boast the most victories in the SoCon this season – 34 – with the best collective earned run average at 4.35 and lowest opponent batting average at .246 overall, limiting the opposition to just 369 combined hits to rank second in the SoCon. Mercer pitchers have combined for 437 strikeouts, tops in the league, with WCU ranked third with 394 K's on the season.
Projected Starting Pitcher Matchups:
Friday, May 6 | 5:00 p.m.
Mercer – RHP Ryan Lobus (5-2, 3.04 ERA; 56.1 IP, 55K, 16 BB)
WCU – RHP Zach Franklin (4-1, 2.20 ERA; 45.0 IP, 52K, 10 BB)
Saturday, May 7 | 2:00 p.m.
Mercer – RHP Josh Farmer (5-0, 3.83 ERA; 47.0 IP, 39K, 15 BB)
WCU – RHP Gavin Mortenson (3-7, 5.76 ERA; 54.2 IP, 43K, 22 BB)
Sunday, May 8 | 1:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+
Mercer – RHP Josh Harlow (6-2, 4.78 ERA; 52.2 IP, 67K, 20 BB)
WCU – TBA
