March 28, 2004

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State Gamecocks completed the series sweep of the Samford baseball team with an 11-3 win Sunday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field.

Samford (4-17, 0-3 OVC) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first inning. Michael Collins scored on a Jacksonville State (9-13, 3-0 OVC) error to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.

Jacksonville State came back with five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-1 lead. Bobby Hicks scored on an error for the tying run. Danny Civello doubled to score Johny Prosser and Robby Goodson for a 3-1 JSU lead. Scott Smith then flew out to right field to drive in Austin Stein for the Gamecocks' fourth run of the inning. The inning's final run was scored when Jake Ball singled to score Civello.

The Gamecocks scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 7-1. Matt Ruckdeschel singled to drive in Stein for the first run of the third. Jake Ball later hit into a fielder's choice to score Civello for the 7-1 lead.

Samford cut the JSU lead to 7-2 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Collins singled up the middle to drive in Joe Denson for the run.

Jacksonville State plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth to push its lead to 9-2. Scott Smith doubled to score Goodson for the first run, and Ruckdeschel singled to score Civello for the second run of the inning.

Samford plated a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-3. Sterling Whitworth singled to drive in Collins to cut the JSU lead to six.

Jacksonville State's Ball hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning with Smith on base to make the final score 11-3.

For Samford, Collins went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Justin Worthington went 2-for-4. Karl Huch pitched 4.0 innings, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits to take the loss and drop his record to 1-3.

Jacksonville State was led at the plate by Civello, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Ball went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs for the Gamecocks. Josh Forrest pitched 7.0 innings, surrendering just one earned run on eight hits to pick up the win and improve his record to 2-2 on the season.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Apr. 3, when the Bulldogs play host to OVC-foe Austin Peay in a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.