March 24, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Murray State swept a doubleheader from the Samford baseball team, 6-5 and 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The games opened the Ohio Valley Conference season for both teams.

Samford drops to 11-13 overall and 0-2 in OVC play with the loss. Murray State is now 5-15 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

For Samford, Louis Rojas and Bear Burnett had three hits each in the doubleheader. Parker Gargis and Luke Peavy each hit a home run for the Bulldogs in game two of the doubleheader. Trent Hill (2-4) took the loss on the mound in game one, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits. In the second game, Josh Ehmke (4-2) pitched 6.1 innings, surrendering four runs on four hits to take the loss.

For Murray State, Chad Allen was 4-for-6 with two RBI at the plate. Tyler Owen had a home run and three RBI in a 1-for-3 performance. Lucas Allen (1-2) was the winning pitcher in game one, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. Mike Perconte (2-3) was the winner in the second game, tossing 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. Brad Rowland earned a save in both games for the Thoroughbreds.

In game one, Samford trailed, 4-1, after the fifth inning, but the Bulldogs came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3. Gargis scored from third base when Peavy hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2. Burnett then scored from third on a wild pitch to cut the MSU lead to one.

Murray came back with two runs in the top of the seventh to push its lead to 6-3. Samford then came back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead back to one at 6-5. John Morgan scored when Michael Marseco reached base on a fielder's choice to make the score 6-4. Wayne Miller later scored on an MSU error for the final run of the inning.

Samford threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when Gargis doubled with one out and then moved to third base on a ground out. However, the Bulldogs were unable to bring Gargis home, and MSU came away with the 6-5 win.

In game two, a seven-inning contest, Murray State plated a run in the first inning and three more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. Samford answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3. Gargis hit a solo home run to left-center field for Samford's first run of the game. Peavy later homered to left-center with Burnett on base to make the score 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Morgan was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off. He was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt, and then to third on a ground out, but the Bulldogs were unable to bring Morgan home, giving Murray the 4-3 win.

Samford and Murray State will conclude their three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Fans can follow the game on the internet via GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.