CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel got a strong start from
Devin Beckley, but it was not enough as the Bulldogs fell 8-2 to Samford Friday night in the series opener inside Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Game Information
Score: Samford 8, The Citadel 2
Records: Samford (24-23, 10-6), The Citadel (22-26, 2-14)
Location: Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park (Charleston, South Carolina)
Series: Samford leads 1-0
How it Happened
- Samford jumped out to the early lead in the third inning as Towns King and Colton Ledbetter had back-to-back RBI doubles.
- The Citadel got a run back in the fifth inning after Sawyer Reeves singled through the left side and came around to score on a Travis Lott single to left center.
- Samford added to its lead in the seventh as Stephen Klein chopped a ball over the head of the first baseman to drive in a run. An error allowed a second run to score before a bases-loaded walk plated the third run of the inning.
- Samford extended the lead in the eighth on a solo homer from Garrett Staton and two-run homer from Colton Ledbetter.
- The Citadel scored a run in the ninth inning on a leadoff homer off the bat of Noah Mitchell.
Inside the Box Score
- Devin Beckley (4-4) suffered the tough-luck loss after allowing just two runs on six hits and eight strikeouts over 6.0 innings.
- He struck out two hitters in the first, second and fourth innings. He also ended the fifth and sixth innings with strikeouts.
- Landon Beverly pitched a scoreless ninth inning after Will Bastian got the final two outs of the eighth without allowing a run.
- Noah Mitchell led the offense by going 2-for-4 with his fifth home run of the season.
- Jacob Cravey (3-3) allowed just one run on five hits and seven strikeouts over 8.0 innings to pick up the victory.
On Deck
The teams play the middle game of the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.