May 22, 2004

Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. - The Samford baseball team came back with five runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 9-6 win at Murray State on Saturday. The win gives Samford its fifth-straight conference series win.

In the five-run top of the ninth for Samford (23-31, 15-12 OVC) Eric Hollis hit into a fielder's choice to score both Michael Collins and Matt Alling to give Samford the 6-5 lead. Garett Rice then scored on a Murray State (17-35, 11-16 OVC) error to make the score 7-5. Justin Worthington then singled up the middle to drive in Hollis and Trey Moody for the four-run Samford lead.

Samford got the scoring started with a run in the top of the second inning. Parker Gargis singled to right field to drive in Rice for the game's first run.

The Bulldogs plated two more runs in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 3-0. Rice scored on an error for a 2-0 Samford lead. Samford scored its third run of the game when Richard Bishop hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hollis.

Samford made the score 4-0 in the top of the fifth when Alling scored on Murray State's second error of the game.

Murray State came back with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 5-4 lead. Clint Griggs singled to drive in Austin Swain with the Thoroughbreds' first run of the game. Alex Stewart then singled to score Chad Fogle and Griggs to make the score 4-3. Murray State took the lead when Scotty Scott singled to drive in Tyler Pittman and Stewart.

After Samford retook the lead in the top of the ninth, Murray State added a run in the bottom of the ninth to make the final score 9-6.

Samford was led at the plate by Rice, going 3-for-3, and Collins, going 2-for-4. Gargis (1-7) pitched 2.2 innings in relief, giving up a run on four hits to pick up his first collegiate win.

For Murray State, Griggs, Scott, Josh Foreman and Swain had two hits each. Bart Peach (0-5) pitched 8.1 innings, giving up eight runs, just one earned, on eight hits to take the loss.

Samford will return to action in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs will be the sixth seed in the tournament and will take on the top seed Austin Peay. Game times will be announced later.