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MACON, Ga. -- The Samford University baseball team outhit the Mercer Bears, 12-8, on Saturday, but left a season-high 13 runners on base in a 9-6 Southern Conference setback held at OrthoGeorgia Park.
 
Samford's (19-12, 2-3 SoCon) woes started immediately in the top of the first inning as the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the frame, but weren't able to push a single run across. Samford's 13 runners left on base Saturday proved to be two more than its previous season-highs of 11 versus UAB, Kansas, Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn and UNC Asheville.
 
Mercer (27-6, 7-1 SoCon), which hasn't trailed this weekend, took advantage of five Samford walks in the first three innings to garner an early 4-0 lead. The Bears only registered one base hit en route to their quick four-run advantage.
 
Samford would tally a run in the top of the fourth inning as senior T.J. Dixon singled to drive in sophomore Jordan Fucci from third base.
 
Dixon finished 2-for-5 at the plate Saturday and also scored a run in the game, while Fucci tallied a 2-for-5 performance with two runs scored and an RBI. In the top of the ninth inning, Fucci, the Bulldogs' talented right fielder from Lexington, Kentucky, blasted a monstrous home run well over the wall in right field. The round-tripper proved to be his third of the season.
 
After Samford notched its first run of the game in the fourth inning, Mercer bounced back with three scores in the fifth and one more in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead in the contest.
 
The Bears' Austin Cox (3-1) started on the mound and struck out nine in the victory. Mercer's sophomore pitched six full innings and allowed one earned run on three hits.
 
Samford's Jesse McCord (3-3) earned the start for the Bulldogs on Saturday, but never fully gained his full control. He walked six batters in the contest, which contributed to four earned runs on only one hit allowed in three innings. McCord notched a trio of strikeouts in the loss.
 
The Bulldogs sent seven pitchers to the mound Saturday. Mercer's Nick Speak came on in the eighth inning to notch his fifth save of the season.
 
Late in the game, Samford mounted a comeback that featured five runs in the final three innings of action. The Bulldogs scored two in the seventh, two more in the eighth and then received Fucci's deep blast in the top of the ninth frame.
 
Samford took advantage of Cox's absence from the mound, but its late rally came up short by a final score of 9-6.
 
The Bulldogs finished with four players earning multi-hit performances Saturday, including Taylor Garris' 3-for-5 outing. Samford's true freshman third baseman added a pair of runs scored in the contest and upped his team-high batting average on the season to .378.
 
T.J. Dixon, Branden Fryman and Fucci all added two-hit outings, while Kevin Williams, Jr., Austin Edens and Ayrton Schafer tallied base hits as well.
 
Samford and Mercer will square off in the third-and-final game of this weekend's SoCon series Sunday at noon (CT) at OrthoGeorgia Park.
 
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