BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Samford's
Jordan Fucci hit for the cycle for the first time in his career, and
Jesse McCord threw 7.0 strong innings as the top-seeded Bulldog baseball team earned an 11-0 win over fourth-seeded Mercer Thursday night at the Southern Conference Tournament at Fluor Field.
With the win, Samford has tied the school record for wins in a season with a 41-17 mark. The 2012 team finished with a 41-23 record. Mercer falls to 30-27 with the loss. Samford will get to take Friday off and will play in a winner's bracket game Saturday.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- Fucci went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple a home run and two RBI to lead Samford in the win.
- Preston Moore hit his first career grand slam, going 2-for-4 with five RBI.
- Branden Fryman went 4-for-6 with an RBI for the Bulldogs.
- McCord (6-1) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up no runs on just three hits and striking out six batters to earn the win on the mound for Samford.
- Kel Johnson led Mercer, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Kevin Coulter (5-3) pitched 2.1 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits to take the loss for the Bears.
SCORING SUMMARY
- Samford jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. Fucci doubled to left-center field to drive in Fryman for the game's first run. Anthony Mulrine singled to left field to drive in Brooks Carlson for a 2-0 Samford lead.
- The Bulldogs added five runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 7-0. The majority of the damage was done on a grand slam by Moore for a seven-run Samford lead.
- In the top of the fourth inning, Fucci hit a solo home run to right field to push the Samford lead to 8-0.
- The Bulldogs added three final runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 11-0. Taylor Garris and Moore both walked with the bases loaded for the first two runs in the inning. Fryman then singled to drive in Connor Burns for an 11-run lead.
LOOKING AHEAD
Samford will now play Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT) against the winner of tonight's late game between Wofford and ETSU.