Troy State Shuts Down Baseball, 6-1 :: Freshman right-hander Stephen Artz recorded six strikeouts in the loss.

April 4, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - Eric Wikstrom recorded nine strikeouts in a complete game performance and Brad Sheffield went 3-for-4 as Troy State took game one from Samford, 6-1, in the Atlantic Sun Conference Series at Joe Lee Griffin Field Friday night. The Trojans ran their record to 18-12 and 8-5 in the conference while Samford fell to 7-23 and 2-14 in the A-Sun.

Wikstrom (3-2) allowed one earned run in nine innings while scattering eight hits. Stephen Artz (0-4) suffered the loss allowing five earned runs in eight innings while striking out six. The Trojans outhit Samford, 15-8. Samford stranded eight base runners while the Trojans left 10 runners on base. Brandon Atkins went 3-for-5 for the Trojans while Wade Miller and Chad Howard each had two hits. Eight different Bulldogs had one hit. Robert Evans went 1-for-3. Matt Alling was 1-for-4 with Samford's lone run scored.

A pair of hit-and-runs by both teams led to a 1-1 tie in the first inning. Brad Sheffield singled and moved to third on Trent Cox's single. Wade Miller grounded out to score Sheffield. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Matt Alling led off with a singled and advanced to third Sae Evans' single. Justin Klinger's infield single score Alling tying the game.

Troy State regained the lead, 3-1, on three hits and one Samford error in the top of the second inning. Brian Lipman singled leading off the inning. Brandon Atkins followed with a double to left center and moved to third on an error by the left fielder, which also plated Lipman giving the Trojans a 2-1 lead. Lenny Maier's RBI double gave the Trojans the 3-1 lead.

Casey O'Quinn's solo home run in the top of the third gave the Trojans a 4-1 advantage.

Wade Miller's RBI single in the top of the sixth plated Maier pushing Troy State ahead, 5-1. The Trojans added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Clint Wade, who was pinch running for Miller, scored on Lipman's foul out to make it, 6-1.

The Bulldogs and the Trojans wrap up the series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.