MACON. Ga. – Carlton Floyd posted a career-high four hits, but it was not enough as Mercer (15-7, 1-0 A-Sun) rode five different pitchers and a hot start to a 7-3 victory over Campbell (4-16, 0-1 A-Sun) at Claude Smith Field Friday evening.

Justin Lilly (0-1) battled through eight innings, throwing a complete game for Campbell, but still took the loss scattering 10 hits and allowing seven runs, all of which were earned. Lilly set new season and career highs with the eight innings pitched and seven strikeouts. Brantley New (3-2) pitched six strong, allowing just one earned run in recording his third win of the year.

Perhaps the most telling statistic of the game for Campbell was its stranded baserunners. The Camels left 10 men on, six in scoring position. Ryan Hamme and Robb Meng both stroked two hits for CU and Rob Lyerly blasted his first career home run in the ninth inning to pace the Campbell offense. The home run was CU's only extra-base hit of the ballgame, as the Camels out-hit the Bears 13-10.

John Dortch led the Bear bats, going 3-4 with two runs and two RBI. Pre-season player of the year candidate Josh Thompson added two RBIs to bring his team leading total to 22.

Eric Renfroe gave Mercer a quick lead in the bottom of the first. Renfroe took Lilly's third pitch of the game over the right field wall to give the Bears a 1-0 lead. The blast was Renfroe's fourth on the season, putting him one behind teammate and league-leader Thompson.

Mercer used a clutch two-out hit to extend its lead in the third. Dortch doubled down the third base line to start the frame and Billy Shaughnessy walked with two outs to bring Thompson to the plate. Thompson came through with a two-run double to the right-center gap to make it 3-0 Mercer.

The Bears matched their two-spot the next inning. After putting men on first and third with none out, Lilly enticed Jason Lowey to hit into a double play, letting Armstrong score the first run of the inning. Mercer rallied with none on for its second run, as Dortch singled, stole second and scored on a Michael Langley single to make it a 5-0 Mercer lead.

Campbell scratched across a run in the fifth. Brandon York led off with a single, and moved to third with two outs. Floyd came through with his third single of the evening, bringing in York and cutting the Mercer lead to 5-1.

Mercer would push across two insurance runs in the eighth. With Thompson and Tyler Brown standing on second and third with two outs, and Lilly sitting at over 120 pitches, Dortch came up with his third hit of the night, a two-RBI chopper over the head of Daniel Smith at third, to give Mercer some breathing room at 7-1.

Campbell tried to rally in the ninth, but fell short, Jacob Allen swatted a pinch-hit single to left, and Lyerly followed with a two-run bomb over the centerfield fence to close out the scoring and final 7-3 margin.

Campbell and Mercer play two tomorrow at Claude Smith Field. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is set for 12:00.