May 21, 2004

Game One Box/Game Two Box

MURRAY, Ky. - The Samford baseball team assured itself of a spot in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament by splitting a doubleheader at Murray State on Friday. Murray State won the first game, 3-0, but Samford came back to take game two by a score of 6-2.

Samford (22-31, 14-12 OVC) was led by Michael Collins and Matt Alling, both going 2-for-4 in the first game. Karl Huch pitched the complete game, giving up three runs on 11 hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs.

Alex Stewart and Bo Baxter had two hits and an RBI each for Murray State (17-34, 11-15 OVC) in the first game. Craig Kraus pitched the complete game, surrendering no runs on five hits to pick up the win.

Murray State took the early lead in game one with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Stewart singled to left field to drive in Tyler Pittman, who had doubled earlier, for a 1-0 Thoroughbred lead.

The Thoroughbreds pushed their lead to 2-0 with a run in the second inning. Baxter singled to right field to drive in James Akin for a two-run Murray State lead.

Murray State made the score 3-0 with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Scotty Scott hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Derrick Newton for the game's final run. The loss snapped a 13-game conference winning streak for Samford.

For Samford in game two, Garrett Rice was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Alling went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs. Joseph Edens pitched 6.2 innings, giving up two runs on six hits to pick up the win.

Murray was led by Newton, going 2-for-3, in game two. Billy Fares pitched 6.1 innings, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits to take the loss.

Samford jumped on top first with a run in the top of the second inning when Parker Gargis singled to right field to drive in Rice.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 3-0 with two runs in the top of the third inning. Eric Hollis hit a sacrifice fly to center field, and both Joe Denson and Alling scored on the play.

Murray State came back with a run in the bottom of the third to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Pittman doubled to center field to drive in Newton for the Thoroughbreds first run of the second game.

The Bulldogs plated another run in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 4-1. Richard Bishop reached on a fielder's choice, and Trey Moody scored on the play for a three-run Samford lead.

Samford added two runs in the top of the seventh when Rice hit a two-run homer to left field with Alling on base to make the score 6-1.

Murray State scored one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the final score 6-2. Jamie Leidolf grounded out to second base to score Austin Swain for the game's final run.

The teams will wrap up the three-game series with a single game on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samfordsports.com.