April 17, 2009

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Samford baseball team plated a run in the top of the ninth inning and another in the top of the 10th to lift the Bulldogs to an 8-7, 10-inning win at Western Carolina Friday night in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series.

Due to the threat of rain on Sunday in the Cullowhee, N.C., area, the teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. (CT).

Joe Durham singled to center field to drive in Bo Smith with the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning. Smith had singled to left field to lead off the inning. Samford pitcher Josh Martin, who earned the win with 4.1 innings of work, held the Catamounts scoreless in the bottom of the 10th to secure the win.

Samford (14-24, 8-11 SoCon) was led at the plate by Wayne Miller, going 4-for-6 with a double and three RBI. Trey Hayes was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mason Meredeth extended his hitting streak to 23 games, going 1-for-5 with an RBI.

For Western Carolina (20-15, 9-6 SoCon), Matt Johns was 4-for-4 with two RBI. The Catamounts belted four home runs in the game. Nick Liles, Trevor Collias, Brent Greer and Stephen Notaro each homered for Western Carolina. Daniel Ottone pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits to take the loss.

Samford jumped on top first with four runs in the top of the second inning. With one out in the inning, Smith reached base and advanced to second on an error. Hayes then doubled to drive in Smith for the game's first run.

Matthew Bennett then singled to drive in Hayes for a 2-0 lead. Austin Allison reached base on another error. With two outs, Miller doubled off the left-field wall to drive in Bennett and Allison for a 4-0 Samford lead.

Samford added one run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 5-0. Brad Moss walked with two outs in the inning. After stealing second base, Moss scored when Miller singled for a five-run Samford lead.

Western Carolina came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Greer and Notaro each hit a solo home run in the inning to cut the Samford lead to 5-2.

The Catamounts added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 5-4. Liles hit a home run to left field with Johns on base to cut the Samford lead to one run.

WCU took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out in the inning, Nataro walked and Mitchell Hatley singled. Johns later doubled to drive in both runners for a 6-5 Catamount lead.

Samford tied the score with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Miller singled to lead off the inning. Miller then stole second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. David Schulze then doubled to drive in Miller to make the score 6-6.

Western Carolina regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Collias hit WCU's fourth home run of the game, a solo shot to left field, to give the Catamounts a 7-6 lead.

Samford tied the game with a run in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings. Miller singled to right field with one out in the inning. After Miller moved to second base on a ground out, Meredeth doubled to left field to tie the score at 7-7.