MACON, Ga. - Danny Rodriguez knocked his second home run in as many games and drove in three runs, but Bethune-Cookman was edged in the bottom of the ninth against Mercer University, 6-5, Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park.

Mercer (2-0) placed its leadoff batter Alex Hanson on base to begin the ninth with a fielding error at second. Hanson stole second base, then advanced to third two batters later on a JT Thomas groundout. Ivan Coutinho's (0-1) wild pitch allowed Hanson to score and saddled the veteran with a tough-luck loss despite allowing no hits, runs, or walks in an inning of relief.

BCU (0-2) took its first lead in the third inning with three runs. After the Bears scored a pair in the first off starter Anthony Maldonado, Josten Heron drew a five-pitch walk to open the frame. Kyle Corbin popped up to second, then Joseph Fernando reached third base thanks to a throwing error by MU third baseman Alex Crotty. Heron tried to score on the play but was tagged out at the plate. Adonis Lao drew the second walk of the inning and then Rodriguez cleaned up with a three-run jack. 

The next Wildcat offensive inning was filled with chaos as well, and chased out Bear starter Chase Burks. Following a Giovany Lorenzo flyout, Nate Sterijevski reached first on a throwing error and Zach Spivey singled to but 'Cats on the corners. 

Robert Bloom then entered from the bullpen to face Heron. The right fielder laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Sterijevski and move Spivey into scoring position. Corbin followed with a walk, and Fernando singled home a run. Burks finished with two hits and earned runs, five total, three walks, and a six strikeouts in 3.1 innings. 

Broom would go on to shutout the Wildcats the rest of the way, with 4.1 scoreless innings and three hits, no runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. Christian Vann (1-0) threw the final 1.1 innings and picked up the Mercer win.

Maldonado allowed two runs in the fifth, and one in the sixth. He received a no-decision with six innings, six hits, five runs, two walks, and registered 10 strikeouts. 

Alexis Herrera pitched a shutout frame, and Joseph Calamita gave up no hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

The series concludes Sunday, Feb. 18 with a 1 p.m. start.