INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to increase their lead over Mercer 5-2, but a four-run ninth inning from the Bears would decide the outcome as Butler falls to 13-34 on the season.

The 2-2 tie would break up in the bottom of the sixth inning off an RBI single to left field from Chris Marras. BU would go on to add two insurance runs as Chris Maranto delivered a two RBI single back up the middle of the diamond with two outs to give the Bulldogs some breathing room. That three-run cushion wouldn't hold however as Mercer battled back to win the game in the ninth inning.

The ninth started off with back-to-back pinch hitters from Mercer with Jose Hernandez reaching base with one away. The top of the order followed after Hernandez which featured Trey Truitt picking up a single and Matt Meeder loading the bases after being walked.

With the game on the line, relief pitcher Danny Pobereyko was forced to battle Kyle Lewis with nowhere to place a runner. Lewis, one of the top college players in the country, would go down looking on strikes as Pobereyko beat him inside for strike three.

It seemed as if momentum had shifted towards the home team, but back-to-back singles from Mercer would prove that to be a lie as the game became tied 5-5 after a two-RBI single to left from Charlie Madden.

Pobereyko would be replaced by Zach Barnes after the Madden single and Barnes would walk in the game-winning run before striking out Ben Upton.

Butler went down in order in the ninth which sealed the win for Mercer. Taylor Lobus moved to 3-3 on the year with the win while Pobereyko was hit with the loss.

Nick Morton was in line for the win as the BU starter. Morton tossed six full and limited the opposition to two earned runs off six hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Game two of this weekend's three-game series between Butler and Mercer will be played tomorrow at 1 PM.