JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Samford University baseball team opened Southern Conference play with a 6-1 loss at ETSU Friday afternoon at Thomas Stadium.
 
"This was a good college baseball game for the most part," Samford head coach Tony David said. "(Miller) Riggins was incredible on the mound. He was pretty dominant for the most part against a lineup that racks up extra base hits."
 
With the loss, Samford fell to 12-10 overall and 0-1 in Southern Conference play. ETSU improved to 17-4 overall and 1-0 in league play.
 
Samford starting pitcher Miller Riggins (2-2) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up five run, but just one earned, on five hits to take the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs. The Samford defense uncharacteristically committed two errors in the game.
 
"Starting in t-ball, when you don't catch a routine fly ball in the outfield, it's going to cost you," David said. "They got that second chance (in the fifth inning) and took advantage of it with a couple of big hits and four runs."
 
For Samford at the plate, Parker McDonald went 2-for-4. Cade Carr went 1-for-3 and drove in the team's lone run.
 
"We simply did not execute well enough on offense," David said. "Not a ton of quality at bats the entire game. We have (Cameron) Keshock going (on the mound) tomorrow and we'll be better at the plate."
 
For ETSU, Cooper Torres went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Carter Fink (4-0) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits to earn the win on the mound for the Bucs.
 
Samford took the lead first with a run in the top of the third inning. Michael Gupton reached base on a fielder's choice and later scored on a single by Carr to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.
 
ETSU came back to tie the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Torres scored on a ground out by Tristan Curless to knot the score at 1-1.
 
The Bucs took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, aided by a one-out Samford error in the outfield. Following the error, Torres doubled down the left field line to drive in the first two runs of the inning. Torres and Grant Gallagher later scored when Joe Little singled but was caught in a run down between first and second, allowing both runners to score, giving the Bucs a 5-1 lead.
 
ETSU added one final run in the seventh inning to make the final score 6-1. Cody Miller scored on a ground out by Torres for a five-run ETSU lead.
 
Samford and ETSU will continue their series with a game Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
 
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