ORLANDO, Fla. – The Samford University baseball team plated a run in the top of the 10th inning to earn a 4-3 win in the first game of a three-game series at UCF Friday evening at John Euliano Park.
The teams headed into extra innings with the score tied at 3-3. In the top of the 10th inning, Samford's Garrett Howe led the inning off with a double down the right-field line. After moving to third base on a fly out, Howe scored on a ground out by Colton Ledbetter for a 4-3 Samford lead.
"Great job again by our guys late against an outstanding team," Samford head coach Tony David said. "It was a really good team win with a lot of guys doing their part. (Jacob) Cravey did an amazing job again tonight. Did not have his best stuff, especially early on, and really worked through it to eat some quality innings. The bullpen followed him up with four zeros to end it. Just can not say enough about Stephen Klein. You can't measure his value as a first baseman with his range and ability to pick the low throw but has carried us at times at the plate the last few weeks. Such a clutch swing by him late tonight to give us life. Great double play started by Will (David) and finish by Towns (King) in the ninth to give us another chance to win it in extras. Nice clean 10th by (Carson) Hobbs to finish it. The guys have tremendous confidence in these late game situations."
With the win, Samford improves to 11-8 on the season. UCF falls to 13-9 with the loss.
Samford was led at the plate by Stephen Klein, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI. Will David and Ledbetter also drove in a run each for the Bulldogs. Alex Goff (2-1) pitched 3.0 innings, giving up no runs on one hit to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Carson Hobbs picked up his third save of the season, tossing the final hitless inning.
For UCF, Alex Freeland went 2-for-3 at the plate. Ben Rushing and Andrew Sundean drove in a run each for the Golden Knights. Kyle Kramer (0-2) pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits to take the loss for UCF.
UCF jumped on top first, plating one run in the bottom of the second inning. Tom Josten scored from third base when Rushing grounded out to give the Golden Knights an early 1-0 lead.
Samford tied the game with a run in the top of the third inning. Maurice Hampton Jr. scored on a sacrifice fly by David to knot the score at 1-1.
UCF took the lead again with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Noah Orlando scored the first run of the inning on a Samford error. Ben McCabe later scored on a single by Sundean for a 3-1 Golden Knight lead.
In the top of the eighth inning, Klein homered to right field with David on base to knot the score again at 3-3.
Samford and UCF will continue their series with a game Saturday evening. The game is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Orlando, Fla.
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