Feb. 19, 2010

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford senior pitcher Jonathan Stephens gave up just one run over 6.0 innings of work in his first appearance since 2008 to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a season-opening 9-4 win over Marshall Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

"Jonathan threw a lot of strikes," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "We only walked two guys in the game, and Jonathan didn't walk any. He did a good job and threw the ball over the plate."

Stephens scattered six hits, struck out two batters and allowed no walks in earning the win on the mound. Stephens, who was 7-0 for Samford in 2008, missed the 2009 season after having off-season arm surgery. Sean Handlan, Tyler Vanderheiden, Rumiko Forrester and Mark Lewallyn pitched the remaining three innings to close the out the game for Samford.

For Samford (1-0) at the plate, Stephen Ballard (2-for-4), Bo Smith (2-for-3) and Michael Johnson (2-for-2) had two hits each. Ballard drove in a run on a solo home run. Wayne Miller drove in two runs in a 1-for-5 performance. David Schulze hit a home run in a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

Marshall (0-1) starting pitcher Ian Kadish took the loss, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits. Kenny Socorro went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI for the Thundering Herd at the plate. Isaac Ballou hit a solo home run in a 1-for-5 performance. Victor Gomez went 2-for-4 for Marshall.

Samford got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Smith singled and Trey Hayes walked with two outs, Johnson singled to right field to drive in Smith, and Hayes scored when Johnson went to second base on a Marshall error to give Samford a 2-0 lead. Brad Moss then doubled to center field to drive in Johnson to make the score 3-0.

Marshall came back with a run in the top of the third inning to cut the Samford lead to 3-1. Ballou hit a solo home run to center field to give the Thundering Herd their first run of the game.

Samford then plated a run each in the third, fourth and fifth innings to push its lead to 6-1. In the third inning, Tripp Swann doubled to right field to drive in Mason Meredeth for a 4-1 Samford lead. In the fourth inning, Miller singled to left field to drive in Johnson for a four-run Bulldog lead. In the fifth inning, Schulze homered to center field to make the score 6-1.

Samford added two more runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead. Johnson singled to begin the sixth inning. Johnson then moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Moss. Miller then grounded out to drive in Johnson for a 7-1 lead. Ballard then homered to left field to make the score 8-1. Samford plated its final run of the game in the seventh inning when Hayes doubled to center field to drive in Swann, who had walked to lead off the inning for a 9-1 Samford lead.

Marshall plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 9-4. Socorro drove in two runs in the inning, while Nathan Gomez drove in one for the Thundering Herd's final three runs of the game.

The same two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Fans can follow both games live on the internet via GameTracker at the links below.

GameTracker For Saturday Game 1

GameTracker For Saturday Game 2