April 12, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team swept an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader from Austin Peay Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The Bulldogs won the first game, 5-3, and they took game two, a seven-inning contest, by a score of 6-1.

With the wins, Samford improves to 20-11 overall and 8-2 in OVC play. The Bulldogs remain in first place in the league. Austin Peay falls to 15-17 overall and 5-6 in conference play.

For Samford in game one, Jonathan Stephens pitched his third complete game of the season, giving up three runs on six hits, and striking out six batters to earn the win and improve his record to 5-0 on the season. The six strikeouts tie a career high for Stephens.

Michael Rutledge was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI for Samford in game one. Michael Marseco was 2-for-3, and Marcus Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Austin Peay was led at the plate by Will Hogue in the first game, going 2-for-4. Stephen Huff suffered the loss, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits for the Governors.

Austin Peay held a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh inning, but Samford plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good at 5-2. Drew Reagan singled to left field to drive in Bill Whitehead, who had walked to lead the inning off to tie the score at 2-2. Rutledge later hit a three-run homer to left field with Marseco and Reagan on base for a 5-2 Samford lead. The home run was Rutledge's third home run of the season.

The Governors added a run in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 5-3.

In game two, Trent Hill tossed 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits and striking out six batters to earn the win.

Michael Johnson went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Whitehead and Rutledge also had two hits each for the Bulldogs. Marseco extended his career-long hit streak to 16 games, going 1-for-4 in the game.

For Austin Peay, David Vicini pitched the complete game, giving up six runs on nine hits to take the loss. Matt Kole went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Governors.

Samford plated two runs in the first inning, one in the second inning and one more in the third to build a 4-0 lead. After Austin Peay got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fourth, Samford came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and another in the sixth to make the final score 6-1.

Samford and Austin Peay will conclude their three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/groups/wvsu/.