April 16, 2011

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. - Samford pitcher Charles Basford pitched 8.1 innings and Brandon Miller hit two home runs to lead the Bulldog baseball team to a 5-4 Southern Conference win at Appalachian State on Saturday.

Samford led, 5-0, heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Samford relief pitcher Andrew Jones came in for Basford with one out and two runners on base. After a walk loaded the bases, ASU pinch hitter Lawrence Pardo hit a grand slam for his first career home run to pull the Mountaineers to within one run at 5-4.

Jones then got Hector Crespo to pop up for the second out of the inning. After back-to-back singles by the Mountaineers, Grant Sides relieved Jones on the mound for the Bulldogs. Sides struck out Jack Myers to end the game and give Samford the one-run win.

Basford (4-3) earned the win, allowing just two runs on eight hits, striking out a career-high 10 batters and walking just one. Sides picked up his first save of the season.

Miller drove in four runs, going 2-for-4 with two home runs. His two homers gives him 14 for the season, tying him for second in school history in single-season home runs. Brad Moss drove in one run in a 1-for-2 performance at the plate.

Appalachian State's Nathan Hyatt (4-5) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits to take the loss for the Mountaineers. Tyler Zupcic led ASU at the plate, going 3-for-5. Trey Holmes, Myers and Jeremy Dowdy had two hits each for ASU.

Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Michael Johnson tripled to left field to lead off the game. Moss then singled to right field to drive in Johnson for the game's first run. With two outs in the inning, Miller hit a solo home run to left field to give Samford a 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs plated three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Johnson and Saxon Butler both walked. With one out in the inning, Miller homered for the second time in the game to center field to push Samford's lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Daniel Kassouf walked to lead off the inning. Zack Briggs reached base on a fielder's choice and Kassouf was thrown out at second. Preston Troutman then walked, driving Basford from the game. Jones then walked Dowdy to load the bases and set the stage for Pardo's grand slam.

With the win, Samford improves to 22-14 overall and 10-7 in Southern Conference play. Appalachian State drops to 21-16 overall and 7-10 in league play.

Samford and Appalachian State will conclude their three-game series with a game Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT). Fans can follow the game online via GameTracker at the link below.

GameTracker For Sunday's Game