May 9, 2010

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Samford baseball team used a strong pitching performance to post its first shutout in over two years in a 13-0 Southern Conference win at Wofford Sunday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.

With the win, Samford improves to 26-20 overall and 14-9 in Southern Conference play. Wofford drops to 16-31 overall and 9-15 in league play. The shutout was Samford's first in a Southern Conference game, and the Bulldogs' first overall since April 26, 2008, when the Bulldogs earned a 2-0 win over Eastern Illinois.

Samford pitcher Josh Martin (4-5) pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just three hits to earn the win. Martin struck out four batters while walking five. Andrew Jones pitched 1.1 hitless innings in relief, and Lex Rutledge tossed the final inning, allowing just two hits to close out the game.

Samford was led at the plate by Michael Johnson, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Wayne Miller went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Trey Hayes went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Bo Smith and Gary Cramer went 2-for-5 with an RBI each. David Schulze extended his current hit streak to 22 games, going 1-for-2 in the game.

For Wofford at the plate, Matt Moore went 2-for-3. James Foster, Taylor Rozier and David Roney had one hit each for the Terriers. John Cornely (3-7) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits to take the loss.

Samford took an early lead when the Bulldogs plated two runs in the top of the second inning. Miller doubled to left field to drive in Cramer and Brad Moss for a 2-0 Samford lead.

Samford plated six runs in the top of the fourth inning to push its lead to 8-0. Hayes led the inning off with a solo home run. Miller later singled to drive in Cramer for the second run of the inning. Mason Meredeth walked with the bases loaded to drive in Johnson for a 5-0 lead. Schulze then singled to drive in Miller and Moss to make the score 7-0. The final run of the inning scored when Smith reached base on an infield single to drive in Meredeth for an eight-run Samford lead.

The Bulldogs added four runs in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 12-0. Hayes singled to drive in Meredeth for the first run of the inning. Cramer then grounded out to second base to drive in Schulze for a 10-run Samford lead. Johnson then singled to drive in Smith and Hayes for the final two runs of the inning.

Samford plated one final run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 13-0. Marcus Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Gardner Richey for the final run of the game.

Samford will return to action on Wednesday, May 12, when the Bulldogs play host to Alabama. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.