Baseball Loses 3-2 to Nicholls State in 12 Innings

Feb. 14, 2003

THIBODAUX, La. - Brian James hit a single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning to score Jacob Naquin and lead Nicholls State to a hard-fought 3-2 victory in front of 468 fans Friday at Ray E. Didier Field.

The game was dominated by solid pitching by each team, and Samford's first two hurlers were especially impressive. Starter Frank Allen Yeilding was effective for the second start in a row, pitching five innings and allowing only one unearned run. Yeilding, whose ERA remains 0.00 on the young season, gave way to freshman Stephen Artz in the bottom of the sixth. Artz was sensational, with only one costly inning. In the bottom of the eighth, with the game knotted at 1-1, Artz issued a leadoff walk to Naquin. After a sacrifice bunt by Kade Rogers advanced Naquin to third base, Brad Dantonio doubled to right field wall, scoring Naquin from second and temporarily giving Nicholls a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs scratched out a run in the top of the ninth when Kip Snowden scored on a fielder's choice by Justin Klinger.

Artz retired the Colonels on 10 pitches in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

Each team went quietly in the tenth, and the Bulldogs were unable to muster any offense in the top of the 11th. Nicholls State was primed to win the game in the bottom of the 11th, but Artz showed remarkable poise and worked out of the jam. The Colonels loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, a hit batsman and a bunt single. Artz induced a first-to-home groundout before two strikeouts, sending the game to the 12th inning. Artz pitched 6.0 innings, surrenduring just one run while striking out six.

As impressive as Artz was, Nicholls State's stocky southpaw David Bourg pitched equally well. Bourg worked five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, and picked up his first win. He worked around a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 12th, setting the stage for Jame's heroics. Senior Casey Graham replaced Artz to start the 12th and was saddled with the loss, his first of the season.

Samford had 2 runs, 9 hits and 1 error. Nicholls State had 3 runs, 10 hits and 2 errors.

The Bulldogs fall to 2-3 on the year, while the Colonels improve to 3-4. Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday. Tune in to www.samfordsports.com to follow the action live on the gametracker.