March 2, 2007

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Samford's Garrett Rice went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, but it was not enough as the Bulldog baseball team fell, 6-4, in the first game of a three-game series at Mercer Friday afternoon.

Behind Rice for Samford (4-6), Bear Burnett went 2-for-4 at the plate. Trent Hill (2-1) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits to take the loss on the mound.

For Mercer, Matt Crawford, Mike Armstrong and Tyler Brown collected two hits each. Brantley New picked up the win on the mound, tossing 6.0 innings, surrendering a run on four hits.

Mercer jumped on top first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Josh Thompson hit a two-run home run to left-center field with Crawford on base for a 2-0 Mercer lead. The Bears added the third run of the inning when Tyler Brown singled to drive in Armstrong to make the score 3-0.

Samford cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. John Morgan scored the run on a Mercer error.

Mercer added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to push its lead to 5-1. Armstrong led the inning off with a solo home run to make the score 4-1. Michael Langley later singled to center field to drive in Steven Karwatt for a four-run Bear lead.

The Bears added another run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-1. Armstrong doubled to center field to drive in Eric Renfroe for the Bears' sixth run of the game.

Samford came back with three runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the Mercer lead to 6-4. Garrett Rice homered to center field with Morgan and Burnett on base to cut the lead to two runs.

The same two teams will meet in the second game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.