Feb. 26, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Lipscomb baseball team plated three runs in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie, and the Bisons held on to defeat Samford, 5-4, in the Bulldogs' home opener Tuesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

With the loss, Samford drops to 1-3 on the season. Lipscomb is also now 1-3 on the year.

"I was really disappointed with the way we played," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "I did think the bright spot was that Josh Vanfleteren really threw the ball well for his first time out here in three years. I am really proud of the way he competed and pitched out of some jams. I really thought he did well."

Sophomore pitcher Joshua Vanfleteren, who was unable to pitch the last two seasons due to injuries, pitched 5.0 innings in his Samford debut, giving up two runs on five hits. Kyle Nichols tossed 1.2 innings in relief, giving up three runs on five hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs.

For Samford at the plate, Marcus Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Michael Marseco was also 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs. Bill Whitehead and Michael Johnson drove in a run each in 1-for-4 performances.

Lipscomb was led at the plate by Ben Williams, going 3-for-4, and Caleb Joseph, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Ryan Wilkins drove in two runs and was 1-for-4 at the plate. Taylor Merry pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits to pick up the win for the Bisons.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, the Bisons came through with three runs to take a 5-2 lead. Joseph drove in a run, and Wilkins drove in two runs to give Lipscomb the lead for good.

Samford came back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 5-4. Rodriguez singled to left field to drive in Marseco for Samford's first run of the inning. Whitehead later grounded out to second base to drive in Michael Rutledge for the game's final run.

Samford will return to action on Friday, when the Bulldogs play host to St. Louis in the first game of a three-game series. The teams will play at 6 p.m. Friday, and then they will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.