Bats Go Cold in 6-1 Loss to Samford

Tuesday, March 1

Birmingham, AL

6:00 pm

Troy University

Samford University

Photo by: Edward Fieder

3/1/2011 9:27:25 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Troy Media Relations

FINAL BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The first road trip of the year for the Troy Trojans did not prove to be fruitful as a quintet of Samford pitchers held Troy to one run on just five hits in a 6-1 loss.

Samford starter Charles Basford (2-0) was the primary weapon on the mound for the Bulldogs, holding Troy to just the one run on four hits over 6.2 innings of work. He posted seven of the 11 strikeouts of Trojans hitters while walking two.

The loss dropped Troy to 6-2 on the year while Samford improved to 6-4, including a 6-0 mark at home.

“They pitched lights out and played a great game,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “I don't ever remember losing a game when our pitchers have struck out so many hitters, but they did a good job in a couple of innings and that was enough when we could only score one run.”

Samford got on the board in the first inning off Troy starter Jimmy Hodgskin (0-1) when Saxon Butler blasted a solo homer. Hodgskin struck out the side in the inning and finished with eight Ks in just four innings of work.

The Trojans tied the game in the third when Adam Bryant delivered a sacrifice fly to score Josh McDorman who had singled and moved up on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. It was the only time Troy would scratch in the game.

Samford went back on top in the fourth when Christian Durdaller walked, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Brandon Powell.

Shane McCain came on in relief of Hodgskin in the fifth for Troy and surrendered consecutive ground ball singles to start the inning. After getting a strikeout, Brandon Miller blasted a two-strike pitch for a three-run homer, pushing the Samford lead to 5-1.

The Bulldogs added another run in the seventh when Gardner Richey hit a solo homer.

Hodgskin, McCain and Nathan Hill combined to strikeout 14 Bulldogs in the game, but Samford was aggressive with runners on base, stealing five bags in the game.

Tyson Workman and Josh McDorman had two hits each for Troy, accounting for most of the Trojans' offensive attack. Bryant was held hitless in the game, snapping his hit streak at 11 games going back to 2010.

Michael Johnson and Phillip Ervin had two hits each for Samford, which saw all nine starters strikeout at least once in the game.

The Trojans will return to action on Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field when they open a three-game series against Southeast Missouri State. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.