March 25, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Joseph Ballew hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Samford baseball team to a 7-4 win over the Murray State Thoroughbreds Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

With the win, Samford improves to 12-13 overall and 1-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Murray State drops to 5-16 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

"That was a huge hit for Joseph and a huge hit for our team," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "We needed a big hit. That was the one thing we were lacking all weekend was getting a hit when it counted, and Joseph really stepped up and delivered for us."

With Samford trailing, 4-3, in the bottom of the 10th inning, Drew Reagan reached base on an error to lead the inning off. After Michael Marseco walked, Parker Gargis moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. MSU then intentionally walked Bear Burnett to set the stage for Ballew's game-winner.

The grand slam, Ballew's first home run of the season, came in his only at-bat of the game, as he entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as a pinch runner for starting catcher Luke Peavy. Marseco went 2-for-4 for Samford at the plate. Louis Rojas also homered for the Bulldogs, going 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Joseph Edens (3-2) pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn the win on the mound. Starting pitcher Chandler Tidwell pitched 8.2 strong innings, giving up just three runs, and striking out 10 batters while walking just three.

"Chandler really pitched a great game," Dunn said. "He battled from the first pitch to the last. He pitched out of some jams, and I am really pleased with what he has given us and with what he continues to give us."

For Murray State, Tyler Pittman was 3-for-4 with an RBI at the plate. James Akin went 2-for-3 for the Thoroughbreds, and Chad Allen drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance.

Drew Leeper (0-2) took the loss on the mound, pitching 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on two hits. Bryan Baldini started the game for MSU, pitching 7.0 innings giving up three runs on four hits.

Murray State jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. Pittman singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Seth Hudson for a 1-0 MSU lead.

Samford tied the score with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Marseco scored when Gargis grounded out to the Murray State shortstop to tie the score at 1-1.

Murray retook the lead with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Allen singled down the left-field line to drive in Pittman to make the score 2-1.

Samford took the lead for the first time with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rojas hit a two-run home run, his third of the season, to right-center field, with Peavy on base for a 3-2 Samford lead.

Murray tied the score at 3-3 with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Allen hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Akin for the game-tying run.

Neither team could score again until the top of the 10th inning when Murray State plated one run to take a 4-3 lead. Jamie Leidolf singled up the middle to drive in Pittman for a one-run MSU lead.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday, March 27, when the Bulldogs play at cross-town rival UAB at 7:00 p.m. The teams will also meet on Wednesday at Joe Lee Griffin Field at 6:00 p.m.