Sunday, February 22
Macon, Ga.
12:00 P.M.
Columbia
0-3
4
at
5
Mercer
6-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Columbia
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
4
11
0
Mercer
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
X
5
7
0
Comeback Bid Falls Short as Columbia Baseball Drops Series Finale to Mercer, 5-4
2/22/2026 4:45:00 PM | Baseball
Vogler and Estabrook each homered in the defeat
MACON, Ga. — Columbia baseball applied pressure throughout the afternoon, but a five-run second inning by Mercer proved to be the difference as the Bears edged the Lions, 5-4, in the series finale on Sunday.
The Lions (0-3) took the lead for the third straight game on a Tate Vogler RBI single in the top of the second, but Mercer had a swift response in the bottom of the frame. Columbia had opportunities throughout, but stranded 14 baserunners in the contest.
Junior Thomas Santana (0-1) made his first start of the season, battling through 5.0 innings while scattering seven hits, striking out a pair and allowing just one walk.
Vogler led the Lions at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and three RBI, including a solo home run in the ninth inning to pull Columbia within one. Junior Owen Estabrook also went deep for Columbia, launching a solo homer, his second in as many games, in the seventh as the Lions chipped away late.
After Vogler put the Lions on top, Mercer instantly responded in the bottom half, using a three-run double by Michael Graziano, and a two-run homer by Chris Katz to take a 5-1 advantage.
Columbia continued to fight as Vogler added another RBI single in the fifth to make it 5-2 before Estabrook launched a solo homer to center in the seventh to make it a two-run game. Vogler's solo shot came with two outs to give the Lions a glimmer of hope, but Mercer reliever Brayden Kersey struck out the next batter to end the Lions' comeback bid and earn the save.
Mercer's Jess Ackerman earned the win, pitching for 4.1 innings while giving up two runs and seven hits to go with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Columbia will head to Manhattan, Kansas, for a three-game series against Kansas State. The opener is slated for Friday, February 28, at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Lions (0-3) took the lead for the third straight game on a Tate Vogler RBI single in the top of the second, but Mercer had a swift response in the bottom of the frame. Columbia had opportunities throughout, but stranded 14 baserunners in the contest.
Junior Thomas Santana (0-1) made his first start of the season, battling through 5.0 innings while scattering seven hits, striking out a pair and allowing just one walk.
Vogler led the Lions at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and three RBI, including a solo home run in the ninth inning to pull Columbia within one. Junior Owen Estabrook also went deep for Columbia, launching a solo homer, his second in as many games, in the seventh as the Lions chipped away late.
After Vogler put the Lions on top, Mercer instantly responded in the bottom half, using a three-run double by Michael Graziano, and a two-run homer by Chris Katz to take a 5-1 advantage.
Columbia continued to fight as Vogler added another RBI single in the fifth to make it 5-2 before Estabrook launched a solo homer to center in the seventh to make it a two-run game. Vogler's solo shot came with two outs to give the Lions a glimmer of hope, but Mercer reliever Brayden Kersey struck out the next batter to end the Lions' comeback bid and earn the save.
Mercer's Jess Ackerman earned the win, pitching for 4.1 innings while giving up two runs and seven hits to go with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Columbia will head to Manhattan, Kansas, for a three-game series against Kansas State. The opener is slated for Friday, February 28, at 5 p.m. ET.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ackerman, Jess (2-0)
L: Santana, Thomas (0-1)
S: Kersey, Braydon (1)
Batting:
2B: Fellows, Cole 1
HR: Vogler, Tate 1 ; Estabrook, Owen 1
RBI: Vogler, Tate 3 ; Estabrook, Owen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Vogler, Tate 1 ; Fellows, Cole 1 ; Estabrook, Owen 1 ; Temesvary, Anthony 1
Batting:
2B: Graziano, Michael 1
HR: Katz, Chris 1
RBI: Graziano, Michael 3 ; Katz, Chris 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Stephens, Eli 1 ; Graziano, Michael 1 ; Katz, Chris 1 ; LaPointe, Dylan 1 ; McEachron, Devyn 1
SB: Kersey, Braydon 1
HBP: Stephens, Eli 1 ; Rowland, Nathan 1 ; LaPointe, Dylan 1 ; McEachron, Devyn 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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