Feb. 12, 2002

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. - - Sophomore left-hander Derek Tharpe struck out seven batters while Major Allred went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI as Samford defeated Auburn, 5-2 at Plainsman Park Tuesday afternoon. It was head coach Tim Parenton's first win over the Tigers in nine tries and first win over a ranked opponent. Auburn was ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll after sweeping Virginia Commonwealth last weekend.

Tharpe picked up his second win of the season, eclipsing his career mark for wins in a season. Tharpe pitched 7.1 innings before giving way to junior Ehren Wassermann, who earned his first career save. Samford out-hit Auburn, 8-7 and opened the season 4-0 for the first time under Parenton.

The Bulldogs struck first in the top of the fourth inning. Junior center fielder Sae Evans led off with a single to left field. After Robert Evans flied out to center field, Major Allred doubled to the right center field wall to score Sae Evans for the first run of the game and give Samford a 1-0 lead.

Senior catcher Grant Caldwell then singled over the heads of a drawn-in infield, scoring Allred and giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

Auburn cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tug Hulett doubled to lead off the bottom half of the fourth. Bobby Huddleston singled to left field, scoring Hulett.

Samford extended its lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning on Joe Denson's solo home run over the left field wall. Auburn rallied again to get within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chuck Jeroloman scored on a single by Hulett making the score 3-2. With one out and the tying run on base, Auburn's Trent Pratt lined out to second baseman Michael Collins and Collins threw Hulett out at first base for the double play.

Samford added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Heath Owen was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After Eli Iorg and Joe Denson both popped up, Michael Collins singled to center field for his first hit of the season. With two men on base, senior left fielder Cory Sumner lined a hit down the right side of the field for a triple to score both Owen and Collins.

Sumner, Sae Evans, Caldwell, Owen, Denson and Collins each had one hit. Sumner finished the game with two RBI while Allred, Caldwell and Denson each had an RBI.

Andrew Skinner took the loss for Auburn who fell to 3-1.

Samford returns to action this weekend in the Birmingham Challenge Tournament. The Bulldogs will host Kentucky at 3 p.m. Friday, Nicholls State at 1 p.m. Saturday and Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. Sunday.