Date Posted: 5/26/2006

DELAND, Fla. – The nation’s most competitive conference championship continued as Mercer eliminated top-seed Jacksonville 7-6 at the A-Sun Tournament. Five of the championship’s first seven games have been decided by one run, the first time that has happened since the field expanded to six teams in 1996.

After falling behind 2-0 early in the game, Mercer (34-25) plated seven runs in an explosive third inning to take control of the elimination contest. The Bears scored all seven runs off of JU starter Joey Wedner (0-1) with two outs coupling five hits with a pair of Dolphin miscues. Shortstop Billy Shaughnessy laced a two-run double into left-center field to provide the big hit for Mercer in the frame.

Mercer starter J.C. Daugherty (3-1) made just his seventh start of the season and excelled for the Bears. The junior southpaw strung together 5.0 consecutive scoreless innings to keep the A-Sun’s top hitting team at bay throughout the middle of the game. He gave way to Hunter Abercrombie with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the eighth inning, and the reliever allowed both to score before striking out Brian Hudgins to extinguish the JU threat. The Dolphins (42-17) rally continued in the ninth inning as Gordie Gronkowski, Mike McCallister and pinch hitter Daniel Murphy used one-out singles to load the bases versus Abercrombie. Matt Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to draw JU within a run before Mercer first baseman Shawn Barrett snagged a Thomas LePage line drive down the foul line to end the game. Abercrombie earned his second save of the season filling in for first team All-Atlantic Sun closer Andrew Urena who went a career-best 4.0 innings in a loss to Stetson on Thursday night.

Catcher Josh Thompson paced the Mercer attack with his 3-for-3, two RBI effort while Mike McCallister concluded his tournament with another great effort, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs scored.

Mercer will have a short turnaround, returning to face Stetson in the ultimate risk-reward game. With a win in tonight’s 7:00 pm game, the Bears will advance to Saturday’s championship game, but a loss ends the team’s season. Jacksonville will have to wait until Monday’s NCAA Selection Show to find out whether their postseason run will continue.

Day three continues with another pair of one-loss teams facing off as ETSU will take on Florida Atlantic. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Championship presented by Progress Energy