Feb. 20, 2005

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - The Samford baseball team fell for the third-straight day at Troy, 8-4, Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.

Samford (1-3) jumped on top early with a run in the top of the second inning. Bear Burnett, who had singled earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch for the game's first run.

Troy (4-2) came back to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brian Bennett scored from third base on a Samford wild pitch to even the score at 1-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Troy took a 3-1 lead with two runs. After three-straight hits loaded the bases, Bryan Madril singled to drive in Blake Green for a 2-1 Trojan lead. The second run of the inning scored when Adam Godwin grounded into a double play and Jared Keel scored from third base.

Samford cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the top of the sixth inning. After the first two batters were retired, Matt Alling singled and then stole second base. Garrett Rice then singled to left field to drive in Alling for the Bulldogs' second run of the game.

Troy added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to 6-2. Keel doubled down the left field line to score Nick Smith and Henry Gutierrez for the first two runs of the inning, chasing Samford starting pitcher Joseph Edens from the game. Chase Amis then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Green for the four-run Troy lead.

The Trojans added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 8-2. Clint Robinson hit a two-run home run to left field with Bennett on base for the runs.

Samford came back with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Jeff Dils, who had singled as a pinch-hitter earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch to make the score 8-3. Alling then grounded out to the pitcher to score Kyle Krebs to make the final score 8-4.

For the game, Samford was led at the plate by Alling, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Rice also drove in a run in a 1-for-4 performance. Edens (1-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits.

Keel led Troy, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Robinson was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Steven Morelock (1-1) pitched 7.0 innings, surrendering two runs on five hits to pick up the win for the Trojans.

Samford will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 23, when the Bulldogs play host to Montevallo in the 2005 home-opener. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.