Feb. 16, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away for a 6-1 season-opening win over Arkansas State Friday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Parker Gargis went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double to lead Samford (1-0) at the plate. John Morgan also homered in a 1-for-4 performance.

Josh Ehmke (1-0) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up just one run on four hits and striking out five batters to earn the win. Chandler Tidwell pitched the final 3.0 innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out four batters.

For Arkansas State (0-1), Brandon Eller went 2-for-4 at the plate. Nathan Gates (0-1) took the loss on the mound, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on five hits.

Samford got on the board first when Gargis hit his home run, a solo shot to left-center field, in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 Samford lead.

Arkansas State tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Eller scored from third when Aaron Ferguson flew out to right field and Chris Evans was thrown out at third base by Bear Burnett.

Samford answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 6-1 lead. Morgan led the inning off with his solo home run to left-center field for a 2-1 Samford lead. Bill Whitehead scored the second run of the inning when Michael Marseco reached on an ASU error to make the score 3-1.

Marseco and Kyle Kilgore then scored when Garrett Rice reached base on another Indian error to make the score 5-1. Burnett then singled up the middle to drive in Louis Rojas for the game's final run.

The teams will play again on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Fans can follow the game on the internet via GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.