Feb. 9, 2001

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Samford Bulldogs scored five runs in the first inning against Tennessee Tech and Brianne Mertens won the 39th game of her career to become Samford's winningest pitcher as the Bulldogs took an 8-4 victory at the Bama Bash Friday afternoon.

Mertens pitched a complete game and struck out six on her way to passing Holly Tucker (1992- 95) on Samford's all-time wins list.

The Bulldogs (1-2) gave up an unearned run in the top of the first inning but responded in the bottom half of the inning. Michelle Dickey delivered a two-out bases loaded single to score Mindy Shunnarah to tie the game. Abi Casillo followed with a three-run triple to center field and scored on a throwing error by the Tennessee Tech shortstop to give the Samford a 5-1 lead.

Samford added a run in the second inning on an RBI-double by Janet Middleton which scored Michelle Wright all the way from first base. Angela Bednark added a solo home run in the fifth inning and Middleton had a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give Mertens all of the run support she would need.

Tennessee Tech (0-2) starter Lee Ann Mongar lasted just 1.2 innings as she gave up six runs on just four hits.

Samford was scheduled to play the nation's fifth ranked team, Alabama, at 6:30 p.m. tonight. That game was postponed until Saturday at 11 a.m. due to rain. The Bulldogs will have to play three games on Saturday. Alabama at 11 a.m., Illinois State at 1 p.m., and a playoff game at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m.