March 6, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Auburn jumped out to a 5-0 lead and relied on its pitching staff the rest of the way to hold on to defeat Samford, 6-4 in front of a sellout crowd of 1,217 at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The Tigers improved to 12-4 overall while Samford fell to 8-6.

Auburn used six pitchers in the game. Senior right-handed pitcher Sean Jones (1-0) earned his first win of the season as he struck out one and allowed one hit through two innings of work. Cory Dueitt picked up the save for Tigers.

Samford out-hit Auburn 13-10 and stranded 10 runners on base. Freshman Scott Fowler took the loss for the Bulldogs. Fowler (0-1) gave up 10 hits and allowed six runs, four earned, through six innings pitched.

After Trent Pratt's solo shot to right field gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Tigers added four more runs in the third. With the bases loaded, Javon Moran scored on a wild pitch. Scott Schade's RBI single then made it 3-0. Bobby Huddleston then scored on Pratt's ground out and Josh Todd followed with a RBI single, putting the Tigers ahead, 5-0.

The Bulldogs cut into the lead in the bottom of the third when Robert Evans singled to right field and advanced to third on an error. Michael Collins doubled to right field to score Evans as Auburn led 5-1.

Schade homered to left center to lead off the fifth, giving Auburn a 6-1 lead. Samford then battled back to within two runs over the next three innings. Grant Caldwell's single to left field scored Cory Sumner, making it 6-2.

The Bulldogs added two more runs in the seventh inning. Sumner doubled and scored on Caldwell's single up the middle. Kip Snowden doubled down the left field line to plate Caldwell as Samford trailed 6-4.

Samford tried to start a two out rally in the bottom of the ninth when Caldwell and Heath Owen singled, but Dueitt got Snowden to pop up to right field ending the game.

Caldwell finished 3-for-5 with two RBI while Robert Evans was 2-for-4 with one run scored for the Bulldogs. Sumner went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Tug Hulett and Scott Schade each went 2-for-5 for the Tigers. Schade also had two RBI. Todd was 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Samford hits the road this weekend for an Atlantic Sun Conference Series at Jacksonville. Friday's first game is scheduled for 12 p.m. (ET) while Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. (ET). Auburn will host North Carolina for a three game series.