MACON, Ga.- Mercer put up six runs in the first two innings and never looked back in claiming an 11-5 series-opening win over the VMI baseball team Friday afternoon at Claude Smith Field.

Mercer junior Brantley New (2-0) threw four strong innings, surrendering only two hits and one unearned run while striking out six. Meanwhile, VMI starter J.J. Hollenbeck (0-2) could not escape the fourth inning after giving up six runs, four earned, on only four hits in 3.2 innings.

A first-inning home run by Mercer (3-1) cleanup hitter Josh Thompson gave the Bears a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after New struck out the Keydet side in order. Following another three-up, three-down performance by the Keydets in the second, the Bears pounded out four more runs on three hits and an error to claim the early 6-0 lead.

VMI (2-2) finally struck with their first hit in the third, when freshman A.J. Yoder singled up the middle with one out. Following a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by B.T. Good and a walk by Klint Reed, senior Kelly Sweppenhiser could not make the Bears pay for loading the bases, as New escaped the jam by striking out Sweppenhiser to kill the Keydet rally.

VMI posted an unearned run in the fourth and an earned run in the fifth to cut into the Bear advantage, making it 6-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth. But the hosts responded with single runs in the next three innings, moving out to a 9-2 lead through seven innings.

Another Keydet rally in the eighth inning kept hopes alive, as the visitors posted three runs despite not having a hit in the inning, thanks to an error, a passed ball and a wild pitch. But 9-5 was as close as they could get, before Mercer tagged Corey Bachman for two more runs in the ninth to make the final 11-5.

Four VMI pitchers saw action, compared to five Mercer hurlers. Freshman Kevin Crum relieved Hollenbeck, working 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. Freshman Matt Edwards and Bachman each worked one inning, with Edwards surrendering one run and Bachman giving up two.

Offensively for VMI, Robert Crumpler and Yoder each had two hits, while Sweppenhiser and Will Smith each posted a double for their lone hit. Jacoby Fields rounded out the Keydet attack, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly.

The Bears and Keydets will again tangle tomorrow, with first pitch for game two set for 1 p.m. The Keydets will send out sophomore lefty Trey Barham, while Mercer will counter with senior lefty Hunter Abercrombie.