Feb. 26, 2011

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Samford baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at Jacksonville University Saturday at Sessions Stadium. Samford fell in game one, 4-0 and then dropped game two by a score of 8-7 in seven innings.

In game one, Lex Rutledge (1-1) took the loss for Samford, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits. Rutledge struck out eight batters while walking four. Samford was led at the plate in game one by Tyler Filliben, going 3-for-4 and Brandon Miller, who went 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs.

For Jacksonville, Steve Eagerton (1-0) earned the win, tossing 7.0 innings, allowing no runs on eight hits. Chris Anderson came in to get the final out and earn his second save of the season. Taylor Ratliff went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Dolphins. Jonathan Murphy, Adam Brett Walker, Kevin Lehane and Jimmy Howick drove in a run each in game one for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville jumped on top early in the first game with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Walker, Lehane and Howick drove in a run each in the inning to give the Dolphins a 3-0 lead.

The Dolphins added another run in the second inning to push their lead to 4-0. Ratliff scored when Murphy grounded out to shortstop for the final run of the game.

In the second game, Samford held a 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but Jacksonville scored six runs in the final three innings to win by a score of 8-7.

Andrew Jones (0-1) pitched the final inning, giving up two unearned runs on two hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs. Michael Johnson, Saxon Butler and Gardner Richey each went 2-for-4 to lead Samford at the plate.

For Jacksonville, Chris Anderson (1-0) pitched the final inning, allowing no hits and striking out two batters to earn the win. Colin Monagle went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Dolphins. Walker drove in three runs and Ratliff drove in two for Jacksonville.

Samford led, 7-6, heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Zac Houck reached base on a Samford error with one out to start the rally. After Houck went to third base on a single by Monagle, he scored from third when Ratliff reached base on a fielder's choice to tie the game. Chris Connelly, who pinch ran for Monagle scored the game-winning run on a Samford error when Murphy reached base on a fielder's choice.

Samford jumped out on top early in game two, plating four runs in the first inning. Miller, Richey, Gary Cramer and Filliben drove in a run each to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs plated another run in the second inning to push their lead to 5-0. Johnson reached base on an infield single to lead off the inning. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch for Samford's fifth run of the game.

Jacksonville got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Ratliff hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Mike Parker to cut Samford's lead to 5-1.

The Dolphins added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 5-2. Murphy singled up the middle to drive in Monagle for Jacksonville's second run of the game.

Samford added two runs in the top of the fifth inning to push its lead to 7-2. Stephen Ballard hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Richey for the first run of the inning. Cramer advanced to third base on the sacrifice and then scored on a double steal to give Samford a five-run lead.

Jacksonville scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and three more in the sixth to cut the Samford lead to 7-6. Walker scored from third base when Parker grounded into a double play for the run in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning, Walker doubled to left-center field and reached third base on a Samford error, with Daniel Gulbransen, Murphy and Monagle all scoring on the play to bring Jacksonville to within one run.

With the sweep, Samford drops to 5-3 on the season. Jacksonville is now 5-2.

Samford and Jacksonville will conclude their four-game series with a single game Sunday at 12 p.m. (CST). The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu.