BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Fighting Leatherneck baseball program fell in their season opener at Samford University on Friday night, 16-8. Beau Below took home the loss to move to 0-1 on the season. Josh Martin was credited with the win after his 3.2 innings of action.
Western jumped out to an early one-run lead but Samford put up seven runs in the bottom of the frame and never looked back.
A big third inning put the Purple & Gold back into the game. Bryan Jordan crushed a line drive over the left field wall for the Leatherneck's first hit and home run of the season. Austin Cowen delivered an RBI double to send the Bulldog starter Lex Rutledge to the dugout and finish his night. The preseason All-American allowed five runs on three hits and walked four Western batters. Dan Dispensa drew an RBI walk and then Matt Igara drove in a run on a groundout via the fielder's choice. The Leathernecks drove in five runs in the frame and trailed 10-5 after the inning.
Dan Russell enetered the game and was effective in slowing down the Samford attack. Russell tossed 4.1 innings and put three zeros on the board for the Leathernecks.
Western added two more in the fifth on a Dispensa double and an error by the Samford shortstop. The score was 10-8 after five innings of play but that would be as close as Western Illinois would get. The Bulldogs added three runs in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth.
The final line for the Leathernecks was eight runs on nine hits and three errors. The Bulldogs scored 16 runs on 17 hits and also had three errors.
Jordan and Dispensa led the way with two RBI each for Western. Anthony Kaskadden added two hits of his own. Ryan Cowhey, Cowen and Igara all drove in a run for the visiting team.
Below was relieved by Russell, who eventually struck out five Buldogs, after going an inning and allowing nine runs. Dustin Hunter, Brian Loconsole and Tyler Owings all pitched in the game.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Ryan Wachholder wil be on the mound for the Leathernecks. Be sure to tune in to the live stream via Rocky Vision beginning at 1:45 p.m.
