April 25, 2007

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Samford freshman designated hitter Tripp Swann had a career-high three hits to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a 5-2 win at Alabama Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

"I was pleased with the way we played tonight," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "With the exception of the ninth inning, we executed at the plate. We were able to move runners and get big hits."

Swann was 3-for-4 with two RBI on the night. The two RBI ties a career high for Swann. Michael Marseco and Parker Gargis were both 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Bulldogs.

Trent Hill pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits to earn the win. Doug Denson pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save of the season.

For Alabama at the plate, Brandon May, Elvin Vargas and Del Howell had two hits each. Casey Kebodeaux pitched 3.0 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits to take the loss.

The win marks the first time since 1992 that Samford has beaten Alabama twice in a season, as the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide, 4-3 in 10 innings on March 14 at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford grabbed an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning. Gargis singled to right field to drive in Marseco, who had led the inning off with a double, for the game's first run. Bear Burnett later scored from third base when Garrett Rice was hit by a pitch. Swann then reached on an infield single, driving in Gargis for a 3-0 Samford lead.

Alabama came back with one run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Jake Smith hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Vargas for the Crimson Tide's first run of the game.

Samford added a run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 4-1. Marseco singled to left field to drive in John Morgan from second base for a three-run Samford lead.

Alabama came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Samford lead to 4-2. Kyle Moore hit a solo home run to left-center field for the run.

Samford pushed its lead to 5-2 with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Swann singled to right field to drive in Luke Peavy to give Samford a three-run lead.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, April 28, when the Bulldogs play host to Eastern Kentucky in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.