BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- Junior right-hander Frank Allen Yeilding threw a no-hitter in the first game of the double-header and the Bulldogs out-hit the Keydets, 16-10 in the second game as Samford completed a three-game sweep of VMI, 2-0 and 11-7, Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. It was the Bulldogs first season opening sweep under head coach Tim Parenton.

"It was a good start to the 2002 season," Parenton said. "I thought our players played tough defensively. We got out of this weekend 3-0 and had a no-hitter. We were able to get some of our freshmen on the mound which was good for us."

Samford's lone two runs in game one came in the bottom of the first inning when junior center fielder Sae Evans hit a two-run home run over the center field wall scoring Cory Sumner, who singled to lead off the bottom portion of the inning.

After the first inning, Yeilding, a junior college transfer from Central Alabama CC and a Mountain Brook HS graduate, faced 20 batters the rest of the way and struck out nine of them to finish with 10 strikeouts and two walks through seven innings of work. The Bulldogs collected five hits in game one. Shortstop Joe Denson went 2-for-2 with a double and a single.

"A no-hitter to start your career is a great thing," Parenton said. "Frank Allen (Yeilding) did it when he didn't even have his best stuff but he found a way to get it done. That's what we need this team to do - fight through adversity."

In game two, VMI took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. The Keydets produced runs off five hits and one Samford error. Justin Briggs singled to left field to lead off the inning. After J.R Royston reached on an error, Andy Barden singled to score Briggs for a 1-0 lead. Chris Brooks singled in Royston to make the score 2-0. Royston and Barden scored VMI's final two runs in the inning.

Trailing 4-0, the Bulldogs erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning. Eli Iorg doubled down the right field and scored on Robert Evans single up the middle. With one out, Denson singled to left. Sumner doubled scoring Robert Evans cutting the Keydet lead to 4-2.

Sae Evans sacrificed to right field to score Denson to make it 4-3. Eric Hollis singled in Sumner tying the game at 4. Senior Grant Caldwell then hit a two-run home run to give Samford the lead at 6-4. Ehren Wassermann doubled to center field and scored on Iorg's double to center field, giving Samford a 7-4 lead. The Bulldogs added one run in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Robert Evans.

After VMI cut its deficit to 8-5, Samford scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sumner led off with a double and scored on Sae Evans' single to right field. After Hollis singled, Major Allred doubled off the center field wall scoring Robert Evans and Hollis to give Samford an 11-5 lead heading into the seventh inning.

The Keydets managed to put two runs on the board in the final inning before second baseman Michael Collins turned a double play to end the game.

Sumner finished the series hitting .667 by going 6-for-9 at the plate with an RBI. Iorg and Denson both finished the series 5-for-9 at the plate. Iorg had three doubles and two RBI while Denson had a home run and an RBI.

Samford travels to Auburn Tuesday at 3 p.m. while VMI will host Coppin State next weekend in a three-game series.