GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Mercer clubbed three home runs to overcome an early 3-0 deficit en route to an 8-3 victory over Furman in the opening game of a Southern Conference series Thursday evening at Latham Stadium.

The win was the 10th triumph in the last 11 conference games for the Bears (29-24, 14-8 SoCon), who remain in a second place tie in the league standings with UNCG.  Despite the loss the Paladins (23-28, 11-11 SoCon) remain in fifth place, a half game ahead of East Tennessee State.

Furman and Mercer play game two of the series Friday at 1:00 p.m.

The Paladins combined three hits with an error to plate three first inning runs against Mercer starting pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, but that would do it offensively for Furman.

Mercer didn't waste much time drawing even, getting a run in the second on a two-out, bases loaded walk by Trevor Austin, and two more in the third on a Collin Johnson two-run home run — the first of three route jobs by the Bears.

After Alex Crotty and Bill Knight opened the sixth inning with back-to-back singles, Jordan Ammons clubbed a three-run shot over the left field wall to make it a 6-3 game.  Three batters later RJ Yeager took Paladin starting pitcher John Michael Bertrand deep, also to left field, to stretch the advantage to 7-3.

Furman loaded the bases with one out in the seventh against Mercer reliever Scott Smith but saw the threat end when Smith's replacement, Nick Spear, induced Jordan Taplett into an inning ending double play ground ball.

Gipson-Long (6-3) commanded the hill after his first inning difficulties, settling down to blank Furman on just two hits over the next five innings.  He finished with eight strikeouts.

The save was the seventh of the season for Spear, who surrendered two hits over the final 2 2/3 innings.

Bertrand (4-5) took the loss after yielding seven run on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings.  He walked three and struck out three.

Every player in the lineup registered a hit for the Mercer, which finished with 12 hits.

Furman had nine hits, getting a pair of base knocks from Dax Roper and Jared Mihalik.