April 19, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alabama baseball team plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 5-5 tie and earn a 7-5 win at Samford Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The game was played in front of 1,847 fans, the third largest crowd in Joe Lee Griffin Field history.

"We played a good team in front of a good crowd, but we played poorly," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "We failed to execute some things. We made four errors on the scoreboard and probably several more than that. It's frustrating for our kids who know they are capable of better baseball than they played tonight."

The teams were tied at 5-5 in the top of the ninth inning. With runners at the corners and one out in the inning, Alabama's Allen Dye laid down a bunt to Samford pitcher Andrew Jones. Jones threw home, but Alabama's Austen Smith avoided the tag of Samford catcher Brad Moss to score the eventual game-winning run. Brett Booth then scored from third base on a wild pitch for the game's final run, giving Alabama the 7-5 win.

Samford sent 11 different pitchers to the mound in the game. Andrew Jones (0-3) took the loss for the Bulldogs, pitching the final inning, giving up two runs, just one earned, on one hit.

For Samford at the plate, Saxon Butler went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and one RBI. Brandon Miller went 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs.

Alabama's Jonathan Smart (2-0) pitched 2.0 innings in relief, giving up just one hit to earn the win for the Crimson Tide. David Kindred led Alabama at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jared Reaves also went 2-for-4 for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama got the scoring started with two runs in the top of the second inning. Kindred singled up the middle to drive in Andrew Miller for the game's first run. Hunter Gregory then doubled to center field to drive in Kindred to make the score 2-0.

Samford plated a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Alabama lead to 2-1. Butler led the inning off with a home run down the right-field line to bring Samford to within one run.

The Bulldogs took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded Kevin Putkonen doubled to center field to drive in Matt Frederick, Miller and Butler to give Samford a 4-2 lead. Putkonen then scored on an Alabama error to make the score 5-2.

Alabama plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Samford lead to 5-4. Reaves and Brock Bennett scored when Taylor Dugas reached on a Samford error to bring Alabama to within one run.

The Crimson Tide scored a run in the eighth inning to tie the score at 5-5. Kindred doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Dye, who pinch ran for Kindred, advanced to third base on a ground out by Gregory. Dye later scored from third when Bennett reached base on a fielder's choice to tie the score and set the stage for the decisive ninth inning.

The loss for Samford breaks a four-game win streak in the series with the Crimson Tide. For the season, Samford falls to 23-15 overall. Alabama improves to 25-15 with the win.

Samford will return to action on Thursday, April 21, when the Bulldogs play host to UNC Greensboro in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series. Thursday's game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. The teams will also play Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.