May 19, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team's late rally fell just short as the Bulldogs dropped an 11-8 decision to the College of Charleston in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series Thursday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford trailed, 11-4 after the top of the eighth inning. The Bulldogs, however, plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 11-8. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Samford had runners on first and second base, bringing the tying run to the plate with one out, but the Bulldogs were unable to plate any runs, dropping the three-run decision.

With the loss, Samford drops to 32-22 overall and 16-12 in SoCon play. Charleston is now 36-18 overall and 18-10 in league play. With two games remaining in the regular season, Charleston now stands in third place in the SoCon standings, while Samford is currently fifth in the league.

Samford was led at the plate by Michael Johnson, going 3-for-4. Phillip Ervin went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Tommy Corbin went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Samford's Joseph Burns (0-1) pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up four runs on three hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs. Charles Basford started the game on the mound, tossing 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Gil Walker, Michael Gunter and Ervin each saw time on the mound for Samford as well.

For Charleston, Matt Leeds went 2-for-4 with two home runs, one being a grand slam, and five RBI. Daniel Aldrich went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Cole Rakar went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Jose Rodriguez went 2-for-5 for the Cougars. Rob Kral also homered for Charleston, driving in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance.

Josh Renfro (9-2) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up four runs on six hits to pick up the win. Casey Lucchese came on in the ninth to get the final two outs and earn his seventh save of the season.

Both teams plated a run in the first inning. Charleston's run came on a solo home run by Leeds to center field. In the bottom of the first, Johnson walked to lead off the inning and then stole second base and advanced to third on a Charleston error. Johnson later scored from third when Saxon Butler grounded into a double play to tie the score at 1-1.

Samford took the lead with two runs in the second inning. Brandon Powell doubled down the left-field line to drive in Ervin to give Samford a 2-1 lead. Corbin then doubled to drive in Powell to make the score 3-1.

Charleston tied the score with two runs in the fourth inning. Both runs were scored on bases-loaded walks to make the score 3-3.

Samford took the lead again with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Corbin scored from third base when Brad Moss reached base on a sacrifice bunt to give Samford a 4-3 lead.

Charleston came back with four runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Leeds hit a grand slam to left field with Kral, Marty Gantt and Jamie Holler on base to give the Cougars a three-run lead.

The Cougars added four more runs in the top of the eighth inning to push their lead to 11-4. Kral hit a solo home run to left field and Aldrich hit a two-run shot to center field for the first three runs of the inning. Rakar later singled to drive in Rodriguez for a seven-run Charleston lead.

Samford answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the eighth. Ervin and Kevin Putkonen drove in a run each in the inning. Johnson and Ervin both scored on Charleston errors in the inning as well, to cut the Cougar lead to 11-8.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with one out, Johnson singled. Moss then reached base on a fielder's choice and Johnson went to second base on an error. The Bulldogs, however, were unable to drive either runner in, as they fell to the Cougars, 11-8.

The teams will continue their SoCon series with a game Friday night at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. Fans can also follow the game via GameTracker at the link below.

GameTracker For Friday's Game