April 7, 2012

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Citadel baseball team plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning and turned a game-ending double play to end the bottom of the ninth in claiming a 5-4 win over Samford in the final game of a three-game Southern Conference series Saturday at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford, however, claims the series win, two games to one after sweeping Friday's doubleheader. Samford drops to 20-12 overall and 9-6 in SoCon play. The Citadel improves to 13-19 overall and 4-8 in league play.

"It was a good baseball game," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "If there was any fault, I didn't think we did a very good job early on. Josh (Martin) got out of the gates a little slow and obviously we did a horrible job at the plate early. But Josh settled in and as a whole, I thought had a great outing. Offensively, we were better towards the end. But, in this league, you can't get off to tough starts."

Samford trailed, 3-2, entering the seventh inning. The Bulldogs, however, plated a run in the seventh inning and another in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead. In the seventh inning, Christiaan Durdaller singled to left field to lead off the inning. Durdaller then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Austin Allison. With two outs in the inning, Brad Moss singled to center field to drive in Durdaller to tie the score at 3-3.

In the eighth inning, Brandon Miller walked to start the inning. Miller then moved to third base when Phillip Ervin singled and then moved to second base on the throw. C.K. Irby then reached base on a fielder's choice with Ervin advancing to third base and Miller being thrown out at home. Ervin then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Tommy Corbin for a 4-3 Samford lead.

The Citadel then came back with two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 5-4 lead. Relief pitcher Lex Rutledge came on in relief of starting pitcher Josh Martin to start the ninth inning. Rutledge retired the first two batters of the inning before hitting Grant Richards with a pitch.

Irby then replaced Rutledge on the mound. Nick Orvin doubled down the left-field line to drive in Richards to tie the score at 4-4. Mason Davis then singled to center field to drive in Orvin for the eventual game-winning run.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Zeth Stone tripled to right-center field with one out. Moss then flew out to Citadel center fielder Orvin who then threw home and catcher Joe Jackson tagged Stone out to end the game in a 5-4 Citadel victory.

For the game, Samford was led at the plate by Miller, who hit his 12th home run of the season, going 1-for-3 on the day. Moss, Corbin and Allison each had one hit and one RBI for the Bulldogs.

Irby (3-1) gave up one run on two hits in a third of an inning to take the loss for Samford. Martin started the game for Samford and pitched 8.0 innings, giving up three runs, only two earned, on eight hits. Martin struck out six batters, while allowing just one walk.

For The Citadel, Bailey Rush went 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way at the plate. Jackson went 2-for-3 for The Citadel. Ryan Hines (3-1) pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits to earn the win.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday when the Bulldogs play at Auburn. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Plainsman Park.