Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team cut a five-run deficit to just one run over the final three innings, but the comeback fell just short as the Bulldogs dropped a 6-5 decision to Valparaiso in the season-opener for both teams Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Freshman outfielder Heath Quinn went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI in his collegiate debut. Senior catcher Drew McWhorter went 2-for-5 with a home run and one RBI. Left fielder Jared Watson and shortstop Tyler Filliben also had two hits each for the Bulldogs.
 
Senior transfer pitcher Chase Traffica (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Samford. Traffica pitched 3.0 innings, giving up six runs, just three earned on four hits in taking the loss. Parker Curry, Cody Pugh and Patrick Maronde also saw time on the mound for Samford.
 
For Valparaiso, Jake Hanson went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Spencer Mahoney went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Crusaders.
 
Cole Webb (1-0) tossed 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits to earn the win. Karch Kowalczyk pitched the final inning to earn the save for Valparaiso.
 
Valparaiso jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the first inning. After Mahoney walked and Chris Manning was hit by a pitch to open the inning, Andrew Bynum struck out for the first out of the inning. Michael Morman then reached base on a Samford error, and Mahoney scored on the play for the game's first run. After Kowalczyk walked to load the bases, Andy Burns singled to drive in Manning to make the score 2-0. Hanson then doubled to drive in Kowalczyk and Burns for a 4-0 Valparaiso lead.
 
Samford put its first run on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Quinn singled to lead off the inning. After back-to-back flouts, Caleb Bryson walked. Filliben then singled up the middle to drive in Quinn to cut the Crusaders' lead to 4-1.


Valparaiso added two runs in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 6-1. Mahoney singled to drive in Hanson for the innings' first run. Bynum later walked with the bases loaded to drive in Nate Palace for a five-run Valparaiso lead.
 
Samford started its comeback with a run in the seventh inning. Quinn reached base on a fielder's choice to drive in Danny Rodriguez to make the score 6-2.
 
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the eighth inning to make the score 6-4. McWhorter hit a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning. Rodriguez later grounded out to drive in Hunter Swilling to bring Samford to within two runs.
 
Samford plated one final run in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 6-5. Quinn doubled to center field to drive in Tripp Martin for the Bulldogs' fifth run of the contest. The Bulldogs, however, were unable to push across any more runs, and Valparaiso walked away with the 6-5 win.
 
The same two teams will play again Saturday at 2 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Live stats are available on the Samford website at www.samfordsports.com. Fans can also watch the game live via Samford Sports TV at www.samfordsports.com/showcase.