Nov. 7, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Blue team had a dominant pitching performance by freshman Taylor Hammond and a two-out run-scoring single from Mississippi State transfer Michael Rutledge to produce a 4-1 victory in game one of Samford's annual Red-Blue World Series Wednesday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Hammond tossed 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out four batters and walked just one. Freshman Josh Vanfleteren pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief, before senior Doug Denson picked up the save working a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.

The Red team started the scoring with the first inning as junior Michael Marseco singled with two outs and scored on senior Bear Burnett's double to the left-center field wall, making the score 1-0. The lead stood until the bottom of the third inning. After loading the bases with no outs, Rutledge stepped up to the plate and laced a hard two-out two-run single to left to score freshmen Alex Godshall and Bronson McGriff. A two strike wild pitch scored freshman Stephen Ballard to make the score 3-1.

Junior Kyle Nicholls took the loss despite an outstanding performance going 6.0 innings with six strikeouts, two walks, five hits, and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Mark Lewallyn finished the game with two strong innings of work, allowing no hits and striking out four batters.

The Blue team finished off the scoring with a sacrifice fly by freshman Davis Harrison to score sophomore Tripp Swann. Rutledge led both teams in hitting by going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Harrison, Burnett, and Matt Bennett had extra base hits in the game.

The series will continue on Friday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. and finish up Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m.