Feb. 19, 2002

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. - Angela Bednark hit the 11th home run of her career in the sixth inning of game one to break Samford's career home run record but the Bulldogs gave Auburn too many extra outs as the Tigers swept the Bulldogs 4-3 and 9-1 at the Auburn Softball Complex Tuesday night.

Bednark's home run came on a 3-2 pitch with Kelly Smith on base which brought Samford to within one run at 4-3. The Bulldogs had a chance in the top of the seventh after two were out. Rebekah Phillips singled to centerfield and Abi Casillo walked to move the tying run into scoring position, but Auburn's Kristen Keyes got Smith to bounce out to end the game.

Auburn (12-2) got on the scoreboard in the first inning after two were out. Sara Dean singled and Kasey Angulo doubled to put runners at second and third. Dean scored on a passed ball to give Auburn a 1-0 lead.

Samford (6-7) answered in the second inning, Michelle Wright led off with a double and then scored on a successful double steal with Tammy Stevens to tie the game at one. Auburn went ahead again in the fourth on a two-RBI double by Lindsey Chitwood which scored Tyanne Fries and Jodi Van Ooyen. The Tigers added an insurance run in the fifth when Shannon Anderson led off with a single and was sacrificed to second base. She would move to third and then score on back-to-back wild pitches.

Jen Loften (4-1) got the win in the opener pitching 6.2 innings. She gave up three runs on five hits. She walked three and fanned seven. Keyes recorded her fourth save of the season. Erin Landsburg (3-4) took the loss pitching six innings giving up four runs, three earned, and struck out three.

In the night cap, Auburn took advantage of four Samford errors to score five unearned runs. Angulo supplied all the offense the Tigers needed with a pair of home runs and five RBI. Angulo hit a three run shot in the first inning and added a two-run blast in the fourth inning. Keyes (5-1) pitched six innings giving up one run on two hits, she walked four and struck out four.

Samford's best chance to get back in the game came in the third innings. Keyes walked the bases load and Michelle Wright legged out an infield single which scored Michelle Dickey from third base. Bednark came to the plate with two outs but grounded out on a check sawing to end the threat. Amber Fuller (3-3) took the loss for the Bulldogs giving up four earned runs and eight hits over 6.1 innings.

Samford will return to action at The Sonic Challenge Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., this weekend. The Bulldogs will face Western Kentucky, Belmont, Loyola, Liberty, Kentucky, and Evansville in the three-day tournament.