April 21, 2012

Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - Back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning propelled Samford to its second-straight, come-from-behind victory over Western Carolina as the Bulldogs rallied to upend the Catamounts on Saturday afternoon, 4-2, at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Samford (24-15, 12-8 SoCon) took the series with Saturday's victory coupled with the 6-3 win on Friday night. Western Carolina (25-14, 10-7) will try and prevent the sweep on Sunday afternoon with first pitch at 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET.

Bulldog starting pitcher Josh Martin (7-1) struck out 13 in eight and two-thirds innings to pick up the win for the home squad. Martin held WCU to two runs on 10 hits while working around three walks. He left the game with runners at the corners in the top of the ninth inning after Aaron Attaway reached on a fielder's choice and Cody Jones singled to centerfield.

However, despite a nine-pitch at bat, closer C.K. Irby got Ross Heffley to ground out to third on a close play at the bag to end the game as Irby scored his seventh save of the season.

Freshman Bradley Strong belted his first collegiate home run to the deepest part of the ballpark in the top of the fifth inning as Western Carolina took a 2-0 lead. The Catamounts loaded the bases, but were only able to plate one run following Strong's lead-off bomb. Tyler White doubled home Jones to drive home the second run of the frame.

Samford answered in the bottom half of the fifth as Brad Moss singled home Austin Allison who was plunked by a pitch. WCU managed to get Saxon Butler to pop-up before striking out Phillip Ervin to make it through five with the one-run, 2-1, lead.

In the home half of the sixth, back-to-back solo home runs by Brandon Miller on a full-count pitch and Irby on a 1-0 offering first tied the game and then gave the Bulldogs the 3-2 lead. Miller added a second solo homer in the eighth inning to stretch Samford's lead to two runs, providing the final tally.

Miller and Irby finished with two hits apiece as Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored while Irby was 2-for-4. Christian Durdaller doubled as a part of his 2-for-3 performance for Samford.

Strong was one of four Catamounts to post 2-for-4 outings on Saturday afternoon. Jones, Heffley and catcher Adam Martin each singled twice in the loss while Tyler White recorded an RBI double - his team leading 14th two-bagger of the season.

Starting pitcher Morgan McKinney (5-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs on just five hits, pitching around four walks with two strikeouts. The consecutive homers by Samford in the sixth chased the Gainesville, Fla., native who battled on the hill for the Catamounts.

Senior reliever Darron Dotson retired the one batter in which he faced while classmate Vance Chavis tossed the final inning and two thirds, allowing one run on two hits including Miller's second home run of the game.

Game three is scheduled for 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET.