Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - The Samford baseball team dropped its second one-run game in two days, as the Bulldogs fell at Troy State, 5-4, on Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field.

"It was a good game, we just came up a little short," Samford head coach Tim Parenton said. "We'll just have to come back and find a way to win tomorrow."

Samford (0-2) jumped on top early with two runs in the top of the second inning. Joe Denson doubled down the left field line to drive in Trey Moody for the game's first run. Matt Alling later singled to center field to bring home Denson to give Samford a 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when, with two outs, Denson hit a solo home run, his first of the season.

Troy State (2-0) cut the lead to 3-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brian Bennett hit a solo home run down the right field line for the Trojans' first run of the game. Casey O'Quinn later doubled to drive in Brad Sheffield to make the score 3-2.

Troy State plated two more runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. Henry Gutierrez hit a two-run home run with Wade Miller on base for the inning's two runs.

Samford fought back to tie the game at 4-4 with a run in the top of the ninth. Alling hit a solo home run with one out to tie the game for the Bulldogs.

Troy State's Casey O'Quinn reached on a double and later scored on an error in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Trojans to the one-run win.

Denson and Alling led the Bulldogs at the plate. Denson went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI, while Alling was 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Samford's Joseph Edens pitched the final 3.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs.

Troy State's Bennett went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. O'Quinn was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Trojans. Nate Moore pitched the final 1.2 innings in relief, giving up a run on two hits to pick up his second win of the weekend.

Samford and Troy State will conclude their three-game series with a game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.