March 9, 2012

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Samford baseball team dropped its Southern Conference opener with a 4-3 loss at UNC Greensboro Friday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.

With the loss, Samford drops to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in Southern Conference play. UNC Greensboro improves to 10-3 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Samford was led at the plate by Phillip Ervin, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Tommy Corbin had a double and an RBI in a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.

Tyler Vanderheiden (1-1) took the loss on the mound for Samford. Vanderheiden pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on one hit. Kyle Putkonen, Joseph Burns and Taylor Hammond also saw time on the mound for Samford.

For UNC Greensboro, Zach Leach led the way, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Lloyd Enzor went 2-for-3 for the Spartans. Dominique Vattuone (2-1) pitched 6.0 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters to earn the win for UNCG.

Samford jumped on top first with a run in the top of the first inning. Zeth Stone walked to lead off the inning and then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brad Moss. Ervin singled up the middle to drive in Stone for a 1-0 Samford lead.

UNC Greensboro came back to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Leach singled to lead off the inning and then moved to second base on a Samford error. With two outs in the inning, Leach scored from third base on a ground out by Trevor Edwards to tie the score at 1-1.

The Bulldogs scored a run in the second inning and another in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead.

In the second inning, Corbin was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After back-to-back fly outs, Corbin scored when Moss reached base on a UNCG error to give Samford the lead.

With two outs in the third inning, C.K. Irby singled up the middle to start the rally. Corbin then doubled to left-center field to drive in Irby to give Samford a two-run lead.

The Spartans plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score at 3-3. Thomas Troelstrup walked to lead off the inning and later scored on a Samford error for the first run of the inning. Edwards, who also reached base on a walk, scored the game-tying run on a balk.

UNCG took the lead for good with one run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Leach singled to lead off the inning and later scored from third base when Edwards grounded out to first base to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead.

The teams will continue their three-game series with a game Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT). 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 online via Live Stats at the following link: UNC Greensboro Live Stats