Feb. 14, 2006

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Samford baseball team dropped its season-opener, 11-3 at Alabama Tuesday night.

Samford drops to 0-1, while Alabama improves to 2-2 on the season.

Samford was led at the plate by John Morgan, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Garrett Rice, going 2-for-4. Freshman Michael Marseco also drove in a run in a 1-for-4 performance in his first collegiate game.

Josh Ehmke (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Samford, pitching 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on two hits.

For Alabama, Evan Bush was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Kyle Moore went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI for the Crimson Tide.

Jake McCarter (1-0) pitched 4.1 innings in relief to pick up the win for Alabama. McCarter surrendered no runs on four hits.

Alabama jumped on top with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Moore grounded out to short to drive in Kody Valverde for the game's first run. Greg Paiml then drove in Ryan Rhoden with a bunt single for a two-run Crimson Tide lead.

Alabama added two more runs in the third inning to push its lead to 4-0. Bush led the inning off with a home run to left field to make the score 3-0. Moore later singled to left field to drive in Valverde to make the score 4-0.

The Crimson Tide made the score 5-0 with a run in the fourth inning. Bush scored the run on a double steal.

Samford came back with three runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the Alabama lead to 5-3. Bear Burnett scored the Bulldogs' first run of the game on an Alabama error. Morgan later singled to left-center field to drive in Rice. Marseco then singled up the middle to drive in Morgan to make the score 5-3.

The Crimson Tide added five runs in the sixth inning to increase their lead to 10-3. Bush drove in two runs with a triple, Alex Avila drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Moore hit a two-run home run in the inning.

Alabama plated one final run in the seventh inning when Bush singled up the middle to drive in Emeel Salem to make the final score 11-3.

Samford will return to action on Friday, Feb. 17, when the Bulldogs play host to the Troy Trojans in the first game of a three-game series. Friday's game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.