Mercer pulls out conference road win in extra innings

Jackson Ware drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the lead run and Mercer held on for a 9-8 win Saturday in 10 innings over host Western Carolina in Southern Conference baseball.

Western Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead, but Bryson Bowman belted a solo homer in the top of the ninth, and the game went to extra innings.

Austin Cox got the final out of the game to earn his third save.

Trey Truitt went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a bunt single, plus two RBI for the Bears.

Mercer, which leads the nation in home runs, turned to small ball to manufacture runs down the stretch. The Bears laid down four sacrifice bunts and had three sacrifice flys while also adding three bunt singles.

Mercer improved to 27-17 overall and 11-6 in conference play, while Western Carolina fell to 22-20 and 12-5.

The series concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Bears host The Citadel for three games starting Thursday.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Mercer pulls out conference road win in extra innings."