March 15, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team defeated Rider, 9-4, Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

With the win, Samford improves to 8-6, while Rider drops to 6-4.

Samford's David Knapp pitched 7.0 strong innings, allowing no earned runs on just three hits to earn the win and improve his season record to 2-1.

Wayne Miller went 4-for-4 at the plate for the Bulldogs. Michael Rutledge was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, while Bear Burnett went 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. Matt Zauchin hit his first home run in a Samford uniform in his lone at-bat of the game.

Rider's Jimmer Kennedy pitched 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits to take the loss. James Hayes was 2-for-5 and Steve Galella was 2-for-4 to lead the Broncs at the plate.

After each team plated a run in the third inning to make the score 1-1, Samford scored three runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth to take a 7-1 lead. In the fourth inning, Rutledge doubled to left field to drive in Michael Marseco and Miller for a 3-1 lead. Burnett later singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Rutledge to make the score 4-1.

In the sixth inning, Miller and Marseco each scored on a wild pitch for the first two runs of the inning. Burnett later hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Rutledge to make the score 7-1.

Samford added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the score 9-1. Zauchin hit a home run with Bronson McGriff on base for an eight-run Samford lead.

Rider came back with three runs in the top of the ninth inning, but Samford held on for the 9-4 win.

The win gives Samford the series win, as the Bulldogs won Friday's game by a score of 3-1. The teams will conclude the three-game series with a game Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the game live on the internet via GameTracker at the link below.

Live Stats For Sunday