2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball falls to Lipscomb at home, opens 1-3
Matt Stamp
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports
The Samford Men’s Baseball team began its season 1-3 after dropping its home opener to David Lipscomb on Tuesday night and losing two out of three at Kennesaw State University this past weekend.
The team won its first game of the season against KSU on Sunday but was unable to bring momentum home to Joe Lee Griffin Field against Lipscomb.
“I was very disappointed in the way we played,” Head Coach Casey Dunn said after Tuesday’s loss.
Dunn was impressed, however, with Joshua Vanfleteren.
After missing the past two seasons due to injuries, redshirt sophomore pitched five innings, giving up two runs off of five hits in his Samford debut.
“The bright spot was that Josh Vanfleteren really threw the ball well for his first time in three years. I am really proud of the way he competed and pitched out of jams,” Dunn said.
In the first two games of the season against KSU, the Bulldogs struggled to get on the board, only amassing three runs in each game.
Bulldog pitchers also struggled in the first two games. In Friday’s game, senior Trent Hill took the mound for the Bulldogs, giving up five runs in four innings pitched.
On Saturday, junior David Knapp went 4.0 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.
After coming up short in the first two games, the Bulldogs were able to shell out 14 hits during Sunday’s win. Senior Michael Rutledge led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Sunday’s game also gave the Bulldogs’ pitching staff a morale boost. Junior Jonathan Stevens earned the win, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four through six innings. Senior Doug Denson earned the save.
After a disappointing start to the season, players said it’s now time to regroup.
“After these last few games, the team just needs to refocus,” Knapp said. “We’re a young team, and we’re still trying to figure out our own identity.”
Samford will be in action again on Friday, Feb. 29, when the Bulldogs host Saint Louis University at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The team won its first game of the season against KSU on Sunday but was unable to bring momentum home to Joe Lee Griffin Field against Lipscomb.
“I was very disappointed in the way we played,” Head Coach Casey Dunn said after Tuesday’s loss.
Dunn was impressed, however, with Joshua Vanfleteren.
After missing the past two seasons due to injuries, redshirt sophomore pitched five innings, giving up two runs off of five hits in his Samford debut.
“The bright spot was that Josh Vanfleteren really threw the ball well for his first time in three years. I am really proud of the way he competed and pitched out of jams,” Dunn said.
In the first two games of the season against KSU, the Bulldogs struggled to get on the board, only amassing three runs in each game.
Bulldog pitchers also struggled in the first two games. In Friday’s game, senior Trent Hill took the mound for the Bulldogs, giving up five runs in four innings pitched.
On Saturday, junior David Knapp went 4.0 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.
After coming up short in the first two games, the Bulldogs were able to shell out 14 hits during Sunday’s win. Senior Michael Rutledge led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Sunday’s game also gave the Bulldogs’ pitching staff a morale boost. Junior Jonathan Stevens earned the win, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four through six innings. Senior Doug Denson earned the save.
After a disappointing start to the season, players said it’s now time to regroup.
“After these last few games, the team just needs to refocus,” Knapp said. “We’re a young team, and we’re still trying to figure out our own identity.”
Samford will be in action again on Friday, Feb. 29, when the Bulldogs host Saint Louis University at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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