MACON, Ga. (April 19, 2025) – The ETSU baseball team battled back from a late deficit with two runs in the eighth to defeat Mercer by a score of 5-4 on Saturday afternoon. It was ETSU's, who is now 27-11 and 8-4 in SoCon play, first series win in Macon since 2009.
 
A day after hitting a school record eight home runs on Friday, the Bucs launched two more home runs on Saturday. Lenny Montesano connected for his seventh of the season, while Jamie Palmese squared one up for his 13^th of his sophomore campaign. Those two homers bring ETSU's season total to 91, which is just two shy of tying the single season program record of 93 set by the 2010 Buccaneers.
 
In addition to the home runs, three Bucs had multiple hits in the win. Palmese finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored, while Cooper Torres reached base four times on a 2-for-3, a pair of walks, a double and two RBI. Tristan Curless also went 2-for-4 with an RBI to round out the offensive leaders for the Bucs.
 
On the mound, Michael Harpster started on Saturday for the Bucs. He tossed the first five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Harpster did strike out a career-high nine Bears on the day. Brady Frederick was the lone Buc that came in to relieve Harpster. Frederick threw the final four innings and allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. For his efforts, Frederick notched the win to improve his record to 4-1.
 
Just like it did in game two, the Bucs struck first in the series finale. Blake Jacklin was hit by a pitch and then Grant Gallagher worked a walk. Curless then drove Jacklin in with a single to make it 1-0 Bucs before the Bears had a chance to take their first swings. ETSU extended its lead with a solo homer from Montesano in the top half of the fourth.
 
Mercer tied the game at 2-2 with a two-run home run by Drew Johnson in the bottom half of the fourth. After a scoreless fifth, the Bucs regained the lead with yet another home run in the top of the sixth. This long ball was from Palmese to make the score 3-2 in favor of ETSU.
 
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the seventh. Mercer used a pair of hits and a Buccaneer error to plate two runs for its first lead of the afternoon, 4-3. As quickly as the Bears grabbed the lead, the Bucs took it back in the following half inning. Palmese (single) and Cody Miller (walk) got the rally started with one out before Torres tallied a clutch two-run double to score both runners and put the Bucs back in front, 5-4.
Frederick, who gave up two runs in the seventh, retired the final six batters in order to preserve the 5-4 victory. After Saturday's outing, opposing batters are hitting just .184 off Frederick and his ERA sits at 2.49.
 
ETSU will return to action on Tuesday when it visits Appalachian State for a non-conference contest. First pitch between the Bucs and Mountaineers is set for 6 p.m. from Boone.

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