From five-game hot streaks to six-game skids, Samford Baseball has been on a rollercoaster ride this season.
Coming off a tight 11-10 loss to North Alabama on the road, the Bulldogs had another opportunity to improve in the home series against UNCG. The team came out swinging in the series’ first game with a 9-2 victory. John Anderson, Jayden Davis, Stephen Klein, Lucas Steele, and Aaron Walton all had home runs in the game, helping the team secure the win.
Along with his homer, Walton drove in three runs, a game-high. Jacob Cravey was stellar on the mound, striking out seven batters in just over six innings. The Bulldogs were riding the high of the first game’s victory, moving on to the second.
However, as manager Tony David puts it, “Baseball is an imperfect sport.”
That imperfection and unpredictability reared its ugly head in the next game, which the Bulldogs lost 4-2. However, the narrative flipped in the final game of the three-game series, with a 4-2 victory in 10 innings.
Kaden Dreier hit a walk-off two-run homer, his second homer of the game, to deliver the thrilling victory. During this game, Garrett Staton, Davis, and Garrett Howe also racked up a pair of hits. Will Lynch fanned six batters in six innings, only giving up two runs.
Unfortunately, Samford fell in their next matchup, a quick one-game trip to Troy in which the team lost 7-6 to the Trojans. The team led 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the bullpen couldn’t hold up the margin.
Despite the minor setback, Samford is finding its groove, sitting at 18-15 overall and a dazzling 7-2 in conference play. Furthermore, the team is a scalding 14-3 at home, as they have defended Joe Lee Griffin Field well. The Bulldogs will next face the visiting Toledo Rockets in a three-game series that begins Friday, April 14.
Sports Editor
