Samford Takes Series Opener

Thursday, May 19

Birmingham, AL

5 P.M.

Mercer University

38-15, 11-8

Samford University

25-26, 11-8

Mercer

Samford

Photo by: Mitch Robinson

5/19/2022 8:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Mercer drops Thursday contest

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Colton Ledbetter hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fourth inning that stood up for Samford in a 6-4 win over Mercer in the Southern Conference series opener Thursday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The Bears (38-15, 11-8 SoCon) scored twice in the third inning to take a 2-1 advantage. However, the Bulldogs (25-26, 11-8 SoCon) answered in the bottom of the panel with the tying run.

Ryan Lobus allowed a leadoff single in the fourth and then retired the next two hitters before Ledbetter hit the go-ahead homer to give Samford the lead for good.

Mercer pulled within a run in the seventh after Treyson Hughes drove in Bill Knight on a two-out single.

The Bulldogs extended their advantage in the eighth to 6-3 on Ledbetter's two-run double.

Jozsef Rohrbacher hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring for the Bears.

Mercer had eight hits in the series opener.

Rohrbacher was 3 for 4 with his eighth homer of the season. Knight had two hits including an RBI double.

Jacob Cravey (4-3) earned the win on the mound for Samford, scattering seven hits and three runs in 6.2 innings. Alex Goff picked up his third save of the season, allowing a run in 2.1 frames.

Meanwhile, Lobus (5-5) took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits and three walks in 3.2 innings.

The two teams, which are now tied for second place in the Southern Conference standings, will continue the set Friday. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.