TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Mercer Bears erupted for nine runs in the first two innings and a parade of seven pitchers combined on a six-hit effort as they cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers in nonconference baseball Tuesday afternoon at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.

The most important part of the game was its outset, as Mercer sent 11 batters to the plate in a decisive five-run top of the first inning, immediately seizing control. Logan Shepherd started the scoring with a solo home run to left field. Later in the frame, with two runners on, Titan Kamaka delivered a two-run double to left, plating Chris Katz and Brant Baughcum to build a commanding early lead.

Mercer, which entered the game with an 18-3 record, continued the onslaught in the second inning, adding four more runs. Katz drove in a run with a double, and Braydon Kersey followed with a two-run single to center, making it 9-0 before Florida A&M recorded its sixth out.

From there, the Bears’ pitching staff dominated. Starter Reid Fagerstrom set the tone with two hitless innings, striking out three. After Ismael Borrero allowed both Rattlers runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Alex Monile and an RBI single by Jay Bell, five Mercer relievers shut the door.

Aidan Hayse, Lawson Cole, Dalton Biggs, Andrew Garnett and Braydon Kersey, who moved from designated hitter to pitcher for the ninth, combined to throw six perfect innings of relief. They did not allow a single baserunner from the fourth inning onward, retiring the final 18 Florida A&M batters in order. The quintet recorded seven strikeouts.

Florida A&M, which fell to 7-12, managed its only offense in the third. Justin Lopez and Caden Kresak led off with a single and a double, respectively, and later scored. Rattlers starter Ryan Young provided a measure of stability after entering in the third inning, allowing one run on two hits over three innings of work. Reliever Roan Tarbert also contributed a scoreless inning.

Mercer’s offense amassed 12 hits, with Kamaka, Kersey and Shepherd each collecting two. Devyn McEachron added a solo home run in the fifth inning. The Bears’ final run came in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk by Parker Dastou.

The victory extended Mercer’s dominance in the recent series, having also defeated Florida A&M 7-0 and 5-1 in late February. The game’s result was in line with national projections, though Mercer’s pitching performance proved more stifling than the simulated forecast of an 8-5 Bears win.

Mercer next opens a three-game home series against The Citadel on Friday. Florida A&M travels to begin a Southwestern Athletic Conference series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, also on Friday.