Box Score

ELON, N.C. -- Lex Rutledge struck out a career-best 13 hitters as the Samford Bulldogs picked up an 11-0 victory over the Elon Phoenix in game two of a three-game Southern Conference baseball series.  The loss snapped Elon's eight-game league winning streak as the Phoenix fell to 16-9 overall and 7-1 in SoCon action.

Samford (16-9, 6-2) got on the board first for the second straight day, scoring once in the third inning.  Brad Moss started the at bat with a double to left-center before moving to third on a one-out single off the bat of Phillip Ervin.  Saxon Butler's single through the right side plated Moss to make it 1-0 game.

Elon had its best early scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third, loading the bases on three consecutive two-out walks before a fly ball to center ended the threat.

In the fourth, Stephen Ballard was hit by a pitch with one out and then stole second.  Tyler Filliben's single to right put runners on the corners for Moss who layed down a bunt for a single that scored Ballard with the second Bulldog run.  Ervin made it a 5-0 game as he hit his second homer of the year over the wall in left-center.  Samford loaded the bases when Butler and Kevin Putkonen were plunked around a Brandon Miller single before Gardner Richey struck out to end the inning.

The game remained 5-0 until the eighth inning.  Moss began the frame with a single through the left side of the infield before a hit-and-run single by Michael Johnson put runners on the corners.  Ervin picked up his fourth RBI of the game when he doubled to right-center to drive home Moss with the sixth Bulldog run of the day.  A walk to Butler filled the bases before a walk let Johnson come home.  Another one-out walk let the eighth Samford run come in before a ground ball to short erased the runner from first, but scored the fourth Bulldog run of the inning.  An Elon error let another run score and an infield single plated the sixth run of the frame as Samford built an 11-0 lead.

The Phoenix was held to just two hits – one each from Neal Pritchard and Sebastian Gomez.  It marked the first time since April 4, 2006 at second-ranked North Carolina that Elon had been held to only two hits.

Samford's Ervin drove in four runs and scored twice while going 4-for-6 at the plate.  Moss ended the day 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Rutledge (5-1) threw 115 pitches over seven innings, allowing just the two hits while walking three.  Josh Martin tossed the final two innings to close it out.

Ken Ferrer (3-1) took his first loss of the season after surrendering five runs on nine hits in just four innings.  The senior moved into a tie for eighth place in program history with 198 career strikeouts after fanning four on Saturday.

The rubber match of the series will be played on Sunday at 2 p.m. which is 30 minutes later than originally scheduled.