MACON, Ga. – Fred Wilson struck out eight batters, while the Mercer offense scored in seven of its eight trips to the plate en route to a 7-2 victory over Jacksonville State Wednesday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.
 
Wilson (2-0), who hurled three hitless innings to start the game, allowed only two runs on three hits and a walk to pick up the win.
 
The Bears (18-4) scored a single run in each of the first six frames to take control of the game.
 
Treyson Hughes set the tone early with a solo shot to the opposite field in the first inning. It marked the sixth homer of the season for the freshman.
 
After Colby Thomas drove in a run in the second on a groundout, Angelo DiSpigna made it 3-0 in the third with an RBI single that plated Bill Knight.
 
The Gamecocks (8-11), which saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, mustered their only runs in the top of the fourth on Carson Crowe's two-run homer.
 
Mercer answered in the bottom of the inning, as David Burke had an RBI single.
 
Antonio Brown's sacrifice fly in the fifth increased the lead to 5-0.
 
Colby Thomas hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
 
Hughes capped the scoring in the eighth by crossing the plate on a wild pitch.
 
The Bears racked up a dozen hits on the night, led by Knight's 3 for 5 performance. DiSpigna, Thomas and Collin Price all had two hits apiece. Thomas also drove in two.
 
Jake Peppers (2-2) took the loss after yielding four runs on seven hits and two walks.
 
Mercer will hit the road again this weekend, traveling to Salt Lake City for a three-game set with Utah.