BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford pitchers Michael Ross and Blake Bortak combined for a complete-game, three-hit shutout in the Bulldogs' 7-0 win over VMI in the second game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
"It was just incredible," Samford head coach Tony David said. "This was an outstanding hitting team and what Ross and Bortak did today against those guys was just incredible. Ross filled up the zone with multiple pitches and Bortak followed up and did the same thing."
 
With the win, Samford secures the series win over the Keydets, and the Bulldogs improve to 15-13 overall and 2-0 in Southern Conference play. VMI falls to 9-23 overall and 0-2 in league play.
 
Ross (3-0) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out six batters to earn the win for the Bulldogs. Bortak picked up his first save of the season, tossing the final 3.0 innings, giving up just two hits.
 
At the plate for Samford, Stephen Klein went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Maurice Hampton Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Garrett Howe also went 2-for-4 with the Bulldogs. Towns King also drove in two runs, going 1-for-5 at the plate.
 
For VMI, Justin Starke, Brett Cook and Ty Swaim tallied one hit each. Tyler Bradt (3-4) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on four hits to take the loss for the Keydets.
 
The teams were scoreless through the first two and a half innings of the game. In the bottom of the third inning, Samford took control of the game with five runs. Andrew Bennett and Garrett Staton scored the first two runs when Hampton reached base on an error. Klein then doubled to left center field to drive in Hampton for a 3-0 Samford lead. King later singled up the middle to drive in Klein and Will David to make the score 5-0.
 
The Bulldogs added a run in the sixth inning when Staton scored on a wild pitch for a 6-0 Samford lead. Samford plated the final run of the game in the eighth inning when Klein walked with the bases loaded to drive home Hampton for a 7-0 Bulldog win.
 
Samford and VMI will conclude their series with a game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Admission to the game is free.




 
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