Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Arkansas State plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 7-5 win over the Samford baseball team Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford drops to 2-1 with the loss, while Arkansas State improves to 1-2 after the season-opening series for both teams.

With the score tied 5-5 in the top of the ninth inning, Arkansas State's Brandon Eller singled to center field to drive in Tyler Doke for the eventual winning run. Guy Brown then singled to center field to drive in Eller to make the final score 7-5.

Parker Gargis had a home run and two RBI for the Bulldogs. Michael Marseco went 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Bear Burnett went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Samford. Joseph Edens (0-1) pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs on four hits to take the loss on the mound.

A.J. Prickel went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Indians at the plate. Ryan Hudgins went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Eller (0-1) went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Tim Egart pitched 2.2 innings in relief, surrendering a run on two hits to pick up the win on the mound for ASU.

Samford plated a run in the third inning and two more in the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. John Morgan hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kyle Kilgore for the run in the third inning. Gargis homered to left field with Morgan on base for a 3-0 Samford lead.

Arkansas State tied the game with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hudgins hit a two-run homer to left field to make the score 3-2. Prickel then singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Aaron Ferguson to tie the score at 3-3.

Samford answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh to retake the lead at 4-3. Michael Marseco singled to drive in Joseph Ballew for a one-run Samford lead.

After Arkansas State took a 5-4 lead with two runs in the top of the eighth inning, Samford tied the score again with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Burnett doubled to left field to drive in Kyle Krebs to make the score 5-5, setting the stage for ASU's ninth-inning runs.

Samford will return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 20, when the Bulldogs play host to Middle Tennessee at 3:00 p.m.