Box score


MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball moved the winning run into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing by one run, but Samford reliever Taylor Hammond induced a game-ending groundout to secure an 8-7 win for Samford Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (2-5) trailed 8-6 heading into the bottom-half of the final frame, and loaded the bases on consecutive walks by Brad Hook and Jordan Patterson, and a single by Drew Cofield. Kevin Knapp then delivered his first career hit as a Jaguar, an RBI single to right-center field, to cut the deficit to 8-7. Bulldog right-hander Michael Gunter then recorded back-to-back strikeouts before Samford turned to Hammond, who got Jaguar right fielder Nolan Earley to groundout to shortstop for the game’s final out.

Samford (6-2) pushed the game’s first run across in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Brandon Miller, but USA answered with two runs in the bottom-half of the first inning on a wild pitch by Bulldog starter Josh Martin to take a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second when Durdaller led off the inning with a double and later scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Moss.

The third inning proved costly for the Jags as Samford scored five runs on four hits, highlighted by a three-run home run by Brad Moss, to take a 7-2 lead.

USA cut the Samford lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Brent Mitchell down the third-base line that scored Hook, who reached on a walk earlier in the frame. One batter later, Knapp grounded out to shortstop to score Patterson, who reached on a single earlier in the inning, to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-4.

In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Nichols reached on a error by Samford first baseman Saxon Butler and scored when Earley doubled to the left-center field gap to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-5.

SU increased its lead to 8-5 in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double down the left-field line by Miller that scored Zeth Stone, who led off the inning with a single to right field.

USA cut the deficit to 8-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Earley doubled to left-center field to lead off the inning and later scored when Nick Zaharion reached on a throwing error by Samford shortstop Austin Allison. From there, the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the ninth.

Samford right-hander Josh Martin (2-0) allowed six runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks to earn the win in five innings pitched. Hammond earned the save in 1/3 inning pitched.

USA right-hander Dillon Buhrkuhl (0-2) suffered the loss in three innings pitched, allowing seven runs on six hits with two walks.

South Alabama relievers James Traylor, Jaime Dennis and Jordan Patterson combined to allow just one run on two hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Patterson tossed three no-hit innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

“The guys out of the bullpen did a great job,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “Unfortunately, for the second consecutive day we had a non-quality start. I thought Samford did a good job; they hit some mistakes. Our guys hung in there and battled and our bullpen gave us a chance to win it at the end, it just didn’t go our way.”

Earley went 3-for-5 with three doubles, one RBI, one run scored and a walk to lead USA at the plate. Patterson finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk, and Knapp went 1-for-4 with two RBI. Brent Mitchell went 1-for-2 with a double and one RBI, and Zaharion drove in one run.

Phillip Ervin went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk to lead Samford offensively. Moss finished with a homer and four RBI, and Miller doubled and drove in three runs.

South Alabama will begin a five-game road swing beginning Tuesday, when it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on Alabama at 6:05 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchaseed by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
NOTES:  Following this weekend’s series, South Alabama now holds a 32-6 all-time series lead over Samford … On the weekend, Jaguar relievers combined to allow just one earned run on two hits and struck out 19 batters in 16 innings pitched … The Jags fell to 39-12 all-time against current Southern Conference opponents.