Steele’s Grand Slam Secures Samford Win
Never a doubt. Samford magic is alive and well as the Bulldogs use nine unanswered runs in the seventh inning to stun Mercer 9-7. Samford is moving onto the semifinals of the Southern Conference Tournament to face Wofford tomorrow at 11:00am.
Things looked extremely bleak for Samford as the SoCon Pitcher of the Year Michael Ross got touched up for seven earned runs on eight hits. Mercer hit three home runs off of Ross who only gave up 8 HRs all season long.
The Samford bats were dead quiet until that seventh inning rolled around. Following two singles by Andrew Bennett and Lucas Steele, Samford scored their first run thanks to a throwing error by Mercer SS Bradley Frye.
Then stepped up freshman DH Angelo Prieto who proceeded to hit a 3-run homer over the Green Monster in LF, that made it a 7-4 game.
A few batters later after two HBPs, 2B John Anderson singled up the middle to make it a 7-5 game.
Mercer went back to the bullpen for another arm who promptly walked Samford RF Andrew Bennett which set the scene. Samford, who was down 7-0 to start the inning, has the bases loaded, now down two, with two outs.
Samford C Lucas Steele stepped up the plate and proceeded to hit a grand slam to dead center. The Bulldogs fought all the way back in one inning to take a 9-7 lead.
As mentioned in our tournament preview, the power of Lucas Steele was going to come into play and Steele delivered.
Samford closer Carson Lore then threw two scoreless innings as Samford never quit to win the quarterfinal matchup in the SoCon Tournament, 9-7. Thanks to the lineup, Samford SP Michael Ross now holds the school record for wins with 13. What a way to accomplish that feat.
Today could be a great omen for the rest of the tournament. No matter the deficit, this team will not go away. Albeit extremely stressful, that’s one win down. Buckle up, because we are in for a wild tournament.
Samford takes on Wofford tomorrow at 11:00am CT on ESPN+ in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament.
Photo from Samford Athletics
