University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Samford
Baseball Drops Rubber Game to Samford - UNC Asheville Bulldogs Official Athletics Site
01.01.1970 | Baseball
March 11, 2007
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Samford University led 6-0 after two innings and 10-3 after five and a half but had to hold on for a 12-9 victory to take the series against UNC Asheville on Sunday afternoon.
Parker Gargis who went 2-for-4 with four RBI and four runs scored hit a grand slam in the second inning that put Samford (9-8) ahead 6-0.
Asheville got its first hit of the game in the third inning as Steve Burnich homered over the left field wall for his first round-tripper of the season. The home-standing Bulldogs got another run in the fourth as Burnich drew a bases loaded walk to score Edmund Locklear.
In the fifth, Samford's Bear Burnett hit a ground ball along the third base line that Burnich allowed to roll seemingly foul; however the third base umpire ruled the ball fair for a single. Asheville head coach Willie Stewart argued the call and was ejected. One out later, Luke Peavy homered to make the score 8-2.
Asheville picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning as Matt Henson singled to shortstop and moved to second on a throwing error. He would score on a RBI ground out by Rob Vernon. Asheville gave two runs back in the sixth as a throwing error resulted in two Samford runs that made the score 10-3.
David Williams hit his first home run of the year to lead off the sixth inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with no one out. Kevin Mattison singled to score Kyle Smith to make the score 10-5. The next batter Henson, hit a rocket down the first baseline but Samford first baseman Garrett Rice made a diving catch and tagged the bag for a double play. Elliott Arrington popped out to end the inning.
Asheville put up four runs in the eighth to bring it to a one run game. With two outs and Smith on third base, Mattison walked in front of a single by Henson that scored Smith. Arrington hit a ground ball to second base that was bobbled for an error that scored Mattison and kept the inning alive. Rob Vernon doubled home Henson and Arrington to make it 10-9. The Bulldogs had the bases loaded again but a strikeout ended the inning.
Samford added two in the ninth to make the final score 12-9. Both teams had 12 hits in the game but Asheville left 12 men on base compared to just six LOB for Samford.
Josh Ehmke picked up the win to move to 3-1 on the year. Josh Lett (0-3) took the loss throwing just two innings, and Joseph Edens recorded his sixth save of the year.
Asheville will travel to Western Carolina on Wednesday for a Parkway Series match-up. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game can be heard live on uncabulldogs.com.
