May 15, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team earned a 5-1 win over Wofford in the final game of a three-game Southern Conference series Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford's C.K. Irby (5-1) pitched 4.0 innings in relief, giving up just one unearned run on two hits to earn the win on the mound for the Bulldogs. Kyle Putkonen started the game on the mound for Samford, pitching 3.0 innings, scattering five hits and allowing no runs. Grant Sides and Andrew Jones pitched the final 2.0 innings for the Bulldogs.

For Samford at the plate, Saxon Butler went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Butler now has 22 doubles and 57 RBI this season. Both totals are just one away from tying Samford single-season records. Kevin Putkonen went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Brandon Miller went 2-for-4 with a double.

"We pitched the ball really well today," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "I was really pleased with the way we pitched and the way we competed. We had some big hits today too. Saxon (Butler) had a big double and Kevin Putkonen had a couple of big hits."

Wofford's Brandon Yarusi (1-5) pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits to take the loss for the Terriers. James Foster and Landon Bennett each went 2-for-4 to lead Wofford at the plate. Konstantine Diamaduros drove in the Terriers' lone run in a 1-for-4 performance.

After the game stayed scoreless for two and a half innings, Samford took control of the game with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out in the inning, Tommy Corbin and Tyler Filliben delivered back-to-back singles. Michael Johnson then walked to load the bases. With two outs, Butler doubled to center field to clear the bases and give Samford a 3-0 lead.

Wofford cut the Samford lead to 3-1 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs in the inning, Mac Doyle walked. Diamaduros then tripled to drive in Doyle for Wofford's lone run of the game.

Samford added a run in the sixth inning to make the score 4-1. Butler singled up middle and Miller doubled to give Samford runners on second and third base with no outs. Phillip Ervin then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Butler for a three-run Samford lead.

The Bulldogs plated one final run in the eighth inning to make the final score 5-1. With two outs in the inning, Miller reached base on an infield single and Ervin walked. Putkonen then singled to right field to drive in pinch-runner Joshua VanFleteren for the game's final run.

With the win, Samford improves to 32-20 overall and 16-11 in Southern Conference play. Wofford drops to 22-30 overall and 9-18 in league play.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday, May 17, when the Bulldogs play at in-state rival Troy. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Troy's Riddle-Pace Field.