Box Score MERCER, GA.- The Tribe scored seven in the ninth, highlighted by Cole Ragone's three-run jack, but could not overcome an early deficit in a 9-8 loss at Mercer Friday night. Assaf Lowengart also went yard in his first game in a W&M uniform with a solo shot in the seventh. 
 
 Carter Lovasz was superb on the mound for the Tribe allowing just one hit, and striking out four over the first four innings of the ballgame.
 
The Bears took advantage of William & Mary mistakes to post an unearned run in the bottom of the first. It would be the only taint on the Tribe starter's night as Lovasz retired nine of his final 10 batters. 
 
The Tribe had a chance to break even in the third, loading the bases with one out. However, Mercer starter Josh Harlow was able to get out of the jam to preserve the Bears' lead. Mercer would take advantage in the bottom of the fifth as the home team plated another unearned run. 
 
In the sixth, the Bears broke the game open on a Jozsef Rohrbacher three-run homer. Lowengart's solo shot would narrow the gap briefly before Mercer scored three more times in the eighth to make it a 9-1 game. 
 
The Tribe did not go quietly into the night as Nick Lottchea's bases loaded hit, and an RBI hit by pitch from Joe Delossantos would make it a 9-3 game in the ninth. Back to back wild pitches from Mercer would plate Noah Zertuche and Lottchea and Ragone would take the first pitch he saw over the wall in center to make it a one-run game. But the Tribe could not push the tying run across. 
 
The same two teams will go at it again tomorrow afternoon for a 3:00 p.m. start in Macon.