Early Barrage Lifts Samford Past Furman, 13-10

CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Outfielder Trey Hayes hit two home runs and No. 5 seeded Samford withstood a six-run sixth inning from No. 8 seed Furman to win 13-10 in game six of the 2010 Bennett Hofford Southern Conference Baseball Championship presented by Carolina Ford Dealers.

Samford (31-24) will take on the loser of the Elon and The Citadel game Friday at 7 p.m. Furman (19-37) suffered its second loss of the tournament and was eliminated.

Josh Martin (5-6) picked up the win, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out two and walked one in five innings of work. Daniel Stallsmith (5-3) suffered the loss, surrendering eight earned runs on eight hits. He struck out one.

Hayes finished 2-for-5 for the Bulldogs with two runs scored. Shortstop Michael Johnson went 3-for-4 and third baseman Mason Meredeth hit 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Will Owens led the Paladins with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, while including a sixth inning grand slam that brought the Paladins to within two at 11-9. First baseman Aaron Thompkins was 3-for-5 with an RBI.

The Bulldogs scored multiple runs in the first three innings to take a 10-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. Furman scored on its next two outings to make it a 10-3 ball game. After a quiet fifth for the Paladins, they erupted with sixth runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Samford got on the board in the top of the first as outfielder David Schulze singled through the left side to score shortstop Michael Johnson. Outfielder Trey Hayes was up next for Samford and hit a round-tripper to left field, bringing in Meredeth and Schulze.

The Bulldogs tacked on four more in the next inning. A triple by Meredeth scored Johnson and catcher Brad Moss. Schulze was next at the plate and grounded out to the shortstop to plate Meredeth. Hayes then sent a shot beyond the left field wall, his second home run of the contest.

Furman put a single run on the board in the bottom of the third. Outfielder Will Owens stole second base and crossed home plate on a single to right center by first baseman Aaron Thompkins. The Paladins added two runs in the fourth. Outfielder Will Miller hit a solo shot to left center, and catcher Paul Nitto scored on a failed pickoff attempted by Samford.

A six-run outburst by the Paladins in the bottom of the sixth pulled them within two. Nitto started the rally with a single through the left side that scored Will Muzika. A fly out by shortstop J.B. Jenkins scored designated hitter Reese Wade. With one out, Owens hit a grand slam to left field.

Samford stretched it to four in the top of the eighth when Miller singled to right field, plating Moss.

Furman cut it to 13-10 in the bottom of the eighth as Harrison singled through the right side to score Owens. The Paladins put two on in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, but Samford pitcher Lex Rutledge was able to get Owens to ground out to the first baseman.

The Bulldogs stranded 10 runners on base while committing three errors. Furman left nine on base and had one error.