March 2, 2013
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- For the second day in a row, Samford hit a big home run with multiple men on base and the Purdue bats were quiet, giving the Bulldogs a 4-1 victory Saturday afternoon to clinch a weekend and season series win.The Boilermakers (3-7) lost their fifth straight game and have scored only four runs on 13 hits over the last three games against Samford (7-5), which improved to 6-1 at home this year.
With the game tied 1-1 in the fourth inning, Caleb Bryson connected for a three-run homer to left center. The long ball turned out to be the difference in the game.
Purdue loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning after Jake Hansen was hit by a pitch and Sean McHugh and Josh Estill each singled. But Samford closer Arthur Strauss struck out Conner Hudnall and got pinch hitter Stephen Talbott to pop out in foul territory to finish off the game and earn his third save in as many appearances. Estill recorded the first hit against Strauss this season.
The Boilermakers only had seven base runners in the game. The five through nine spots in the lineup were a combined 0-for-17 and did not reach base.
Samford starter Eric Wright (2-0) posted four 1-2-3 innings and also picked off a base runner trying to steal. A game-opening error by third baseman Tommy Corbin allowed Brandon Krieg to reach base safely and he scored Purdue's only run on a sac fly to right from Josh Estill.
A leadoff single, walk and sacrifice bunt set the stage for Bryson's three-run homer in the fourth inning. It turned out to be Jordan Minch's only bad frame of the day. The freshman surrendered seven hits and walked five over six-plus innings. He induced a 4-6-3 double play to erase a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first.
Purdue reliever Mike Lutz also induced a big double play to end the seventh inning, getting Samford standout Phillip Ervin to hit into a 5-4-3 twin killing with runners on the corners in the seventh. Lutz also worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning, the Boilers' only such frame of the day.
Hudnall recorded his second outfield assist of the season when he threw out Bryson at home plate from the foul territory down the right field line in the sixth inning. Bryson was trying to score from first base after McHugh's throw got away. McHugh made a diving stop on sharp ground ball to third base and was trying to throw the batter out at first.
The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.