Jacob Jaye homered and drove in both of VMI’s runs, but Kyle Lewis went deep and had five RBI as the Mercer Bears defeated the Keydets, 7-2, in the finale of a three-game SoCon series contested Sunday in Macon, Ga.
Mercer (22-15, 8-4) had led from the bottom of the first on, but the Keydets (17-23, 2-10) trimmed the deficit to 3-2 headed to the bottom of the seventh. Micah Gorman relieved and walked Matt Meeder with one out. Lewis then followed with a two-run home run to right center to make it a 5-2 game. Mercer then added two more runs in the eighth to account for the final margin.
On the mound, Brandon Barbery (3-5) took the loss as he allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings. Kevin Coulter (4-1) allowed two runs on 6 1/3 innings and picked up the win, while Conard Broom allowed just one baserunner over the final 1 2/3 innings to post his second save.
A two-run single by Lewis in the first inning put Mercer ahead, 2-0, and the outfielder singled home a run in the third as well for a 3-0 advantage.
The Keydets got a run back in the fifth on Jaye’s second home run of the weekend, and Jaye singled home a run in the seventh to make it 3-2. After that single, the Keydets had runners at the corners with one out, but Peyton Maddox grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Offensively, Jaye went 2 for 4 with two RBI to lead the visitors, while Lewis went 3 for 5 with five RBI to pace the home team.
VMI baseball will return to action Tuesday, when the Keydets play host to Old Dominion at 6 p.m.
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