BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford scored seven of their nine runs with two outs in the game as UNC Greensboro fell to the Bulldogs, 9-5, on Friday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Reliever Michael Gunter picked up the win for the Bulldogs (18-11, 9-1 Southern Conference) after allowing just one hit in an inning of work. UNCG starter Warren Slack was credited with the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in three innings.
Harry Slade, Chris Barker and Kris Richards all went 2-4 to lead the Spartans (14-16, 2-10 SoCon) at the plate. Ray Quinones and Ed Jayjack added a pair of RBI as well.
Samford was led by Gary Cramer who went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs. Wayne Miller also had a nice night as he went 2-5 with a pair of RBI and runs scored.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the first inning to take an early lead on an unearned run. Miller led off the inning with a single through the right side before moving over to second on a passed ball. He advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a fielder's choice to make it 1-0 after an inning of play.
Samford added to that lead in the bottom half of the third as they pushed four more runs across the plate, all with two outs. David Schulze got it started with a solo home run to right field. Bo Smith followed with a single to right field and moved to second on a walk by Trey Hayes.
Cramer cleared the bases with a triple to right field to score Smith and Hayes. Cramer scored a batter on a single by Michael Johnson to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
The Spartans continued to battle back though as they put up four runs in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game. With one down, Richards hit a solo home run over the left field wall to get the team on the board.
Slade and Barker then hit back-to-back singles before Corey Overholtzer reached on a fielder's choice and all runners were safe as Barker reached second on an error to load the bases. Quinones then hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Slade and move Barker and Overholtzer to second and third. Jayjack then cleared the bases on a double off the wall in right center to pull the Spartans within, 5-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mason Meredith hit a towering shot out to left field with one out to give Samford a 6-4 advantage.
The Bulldogs went on to push their lead back to five runs as they added a trio of runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cramer hit a single to center field before Johnson lined out to make it two outs in the inning.
Brad Moss then singled through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second. Miller then delivered a triple to the gap in right center to score Cramer and Moss. Miller then scored on a wild pitch to push the Bulldog lead to 9-4.
Slade scored on a sacrifice fly by Quinones in the top of the ninth to make the final score, 9-5.
The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow for the second game of the series beginning at 1 p.m. CDT.
AGATE
Samford 9, UNC Greensboro 5
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UNC Greensboro...... 000 040 001 - 5 9 1 (14-16, 2-10)
Samford............. 104 001 30X - 9 14 2 (18-11, 9-1)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Warren Slack; Matt Parish(4); Greg Smith(7) and Ed Jayjack. Samford - Jonathan Stephens; Michael Gunter(5); Andrew Jones(6); Sean Handlan(9); Lex Rutledge(9) and Brad Moss.
Win-Michael Gunter(1-0) Loss-Warren Slack(2-7) T-2:46 A-371
HR UNCG - Kris Richards.
HR SAM - Mason Meredeth; David Schulze.
Weather: 71 and clear
Handlan faced 1 batter in the 9th.
- UNCG -
