Mercer carries 3-0 record into matchup with Georgia

Craig Gibson liked the crowds he saw at the Mercer baseball team's sweep of Radford to open the season this past weekend.

The Bears' head coach expects that to go to another level Wednesday when his team hosts Georgia at Claude Smith Field. Mercer is 3-0 for the third time in four years, while Georgia took two of three from Georgia Southern.

The game was scheduled to be played Tuesday but pushed back a day because of weather.

"I thought our crowds were good this weekend, and it should be great when we get the red and black in here," Gibson said with a smile. "It's a chance to have a great club, an SEC club, at home. It's hard to get those games. We're glad they'll come to our place, a good SEC team. That's good for us."

Mercer beat Georgia twice last season, scoring 28 runs, including 16 in a home game. The Bears scored 27 runs against Radford.

"It's going to be fun to have them here in Macon, and we'll have a good crowd," senior Jose Hernandez said. "But just like any other team, we'll prepare, and just like any other team, we'll work hard, and hopefully, we can come out with a W."

Gibson said he's not sure who will pitch Wednesday.

FPD product and freshman Austin Cox was scheduled to get his first start, but he threw four innings of relief Saturday.

"We have a lot of guys we can pitch," Gibson said. "Our pitching's not overpowering, but they throw strikes, and with our defense, we'll have a chance."

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Mercer carries 3-0 record into matchup with Georgia ."