May 18, 2012

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. - The Samford baseball team dropped a 6-2 decision in the second game of a three-game series at 24th-ranked Oklahoma Friday evening at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

With the loss, Samford drops to 35-20. Oklahoma improves to 34-21 with the win.

Samford was led at the plate by Saxon Butler, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Brandon Miller went 2-for-4 with a double, while Brad Moss went 2-for-4 and Tyler Filliben went 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs.

Charles Basford (8-2) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up four runs on six hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford. Gil Walker and Andres Gracia also saw time on the mound for Samford.

For Oklahoma, Jack Mayfield went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Max White went 2-for-4. Cody Reine hit a solo home run in a 1-for-4 performance, while Garrett Carey drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance.

Jonathan Gray (7-4) tossed 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out nine batters to earn the win for the Sooners. Steven Okert pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Zeth Stone led the inning off with a single through the right side of the infield. With one out in the inning, Butler hit a two-run home run to left field for a 2-0 Samford lead. The homer was Butler's 13th of the season and his second of the series.

Oklahoma plated a run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Samford lead to 2-1. Carey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Carey moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt and third base on a bunt single. Carey then scored when Reine grounded into a double play for the Sooners' first run of the game.

The Sooners took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out in the inning, Evan Mistich and Mayfield hit back-to-back singles to start the rally. With two outs, Carey singled to drive in Mistich and Mayfield for a 3-2 Oklahoma lead.

Oklahoma added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to push its lead to 4-2. With one out in the inning, White doubled down the left-field line. White then scored on a two-base wild pitch for a two-run Sooner lead.

Oklahoma plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 6-2. With one out in the inning, Reine hit a solo home run to center field for the first run of the inning. White then doubled down the left-field line. White moved to third base on an error and then scored on a single by Mayfield for a four-run Oklahoma lead.

The same two teams will conclude their three-game series with a game Saturday at 2 p.m. 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 GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.