University of Toledo
SAMFORD
Toledo Triumphs in 11 Innings at Samford, 11-9
3/13/2004 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Senior Sean Dobson hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to lift Toledo to an 11-9 victory over the Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field Saturday afternoon.
"Today was another emotional game, but this time we hung in there and were able to pull it out," Toledo Head Coach Cory Mee said.
The two teams went into extra innings tied at 4-4, but Toledo (1-9) plated five runs in the top of the 10th to take a 9-4 lead. The first batter of the inning, senior Jarrod Resendez hit a home run to left center to give the Rockets a 5-4 lead. Classmate Chris Arvay singled to drive in Dobson and sophomore Dan Stong for a 7-4 lead. Sophomore Nick Lance then doubled to drive in Arvay and senior Doug Yoder for the Rockets' final two runs of the inning.
Samford (2-11), however, answered with five runs of its own in the bottom of the 10th. Justin Worthington singled up the middle to drive in Trey Moody to cut the lead to 9-5. Michael Collins then doubled to center field to drive in Worthington, Parker Gargis and Richard Bishop to make it a one-run game at 9-8. Matt Alling tied the game when his single to center field scored Collins to make the score 9-9.
Dobson's home run in the 11th came with Stong on base after reaching on a Samford error. Samford was unable to get anything going in the bottom of the 11th and the game ended with the Rockets winning, 11-9.
For Samford, Worthington was 4-for-5 with an RBI. Collins went 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Alling was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Joe Denson was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Gargis pitched the final inning, giving up two runs, only one earned, on three hits to take the loss and drop his record to 0-2. Stephen Artz started the game for Samford and pitched 9.0 innings, giving up just three earned runs on seven hits for the Bulldogs.
Toledo was led by Dobson, Resendez and Lance, each going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Senior RHP Mitch Hayes pitched 0.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits to pick up the win for the Rockets. Freshman Greg Gompf pitched the final inning without giving up a hit to earn his first collegiate save.
Toledo and Samford will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
