Feb. 27, 2010

Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Samford baseball team evened its series with Kennesaw State with a 9-7 win over the Owls Saturday afternoon at KSU's Stillwell Stadium.

Samford improves to 4-3 on the season with the win. Kennesaw State drops to 1-5 with the loss.

Samford was led at the plate by Michael Johnson, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Bo Smith went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Stephen Ballard and Mason Meredeth each homered for the Bulldogs in the win.

Josh Martin pitched 4.0 innings in relief, giving up three runs on three hits to earn the win. Lex Rutledge pitched the final inning, giving up just one hit to earn his second save of the season.

For Kennesaw State, Ross Tendler was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Drew Fowlkes also homered for the Owls. Sean Fream gave up four runs on one hit to take the loss on the mound for Kennesaw State.

Samford jumped out to a big lead early, plating six runs in the top of the first inning. Smith singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Wayne Miller for the game's first run. David Schulze then walked with the bases loaded to bring Ballard home for a 2-0 Samford lead.

Tommy Corbin was later hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Smith for Samford's third run of the inning. Johnson then singled to drive in Trey Hayes and Schulze to make the score 5-0. The final run of the inning scored when Brad Moss grounded out to first base to drive in Corbin for a 6-0 Samford lead.

Kennesaw State came back with four runs in the bottom of the first to cut the Samford lead to 6-4. Fowlkes hit a two-run home run with Tyler Stubblefield on base for the Owls' first two runs of the game. Tendler later hit a two-run home run with Clint Roques on base to cut Samford's lead to two runs.

Samford plated two more runs in the top of the second inning. Ballard and Meredeth led the inning off with back-to-back solo home runs to push Samford's lead to 8-4.

Kennesaw State scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 8-7. Bucky Smith doubled to right field to drive in Tendler and Roques for the Owls' first two runs in the inning. Peyton Hart then singled to left field to drive in Smith and cut the Samford lead to one run.

Samford added one final run in the top of the ninth inning. Alvin Hines II, who pinch ran for Schulze earlier in the inning, scored from third base on a balk to give make the final score 9-7.

Samford and Kennesaw State will wrap up their three-game series with a final game Sunday. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. (CST) start.