April 17, 2002

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 2 Alabama took an early 5-0 lead in the first and with-stood every Samford rally the rest of the way as the Crimson Tide cruised to a 14-7 win over the Bulldogs, Wednesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Samford fell to 19-19 on the season while Alabama improved to 33-5 overall. The Crimson Tide only out-hit the Bulldogs, 16-15, but Samford stranded 11 base runners to Alabama's six.

The Crimson Tide took an early 5-0 lead on five hits, chasing Samford starter Major Allred from the game in the first. Jeremy Brown's two-RBI double and Peter Stonard's RBI-double highlighted the inning.

Samford answered with two runs of its own in the second. Heath Owen led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on Sae Evans single. Kip Snowden's infield single scored Owen as Samford trailed 5-1. Joe Denson's RBI-single to left field scored Sae Evans to make it 5-2. Samford then loaded the bases with one out, but Alabama got Robert Evans to strike out and Grant Caldwell to ground out.

Alabama added four runs in the second and one run in the third to take a 10-2 lead. The Bulldogs cut their deficit to 10-4 in the fourth on Robert Evans two-run home run to right field to score Cory Sumner, who had doubled.

The Crimson Tide added two runs in the bottom of the fourth on Travis Garner's two-RBI single with two outs to give Alabama a 12-4 lead.

Samford rallied one more time in the eighth. Snowden led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on Eli Iorg's double to right center. Sumner then scored Snowden when he reached on an error to cut the lead to 12-5. Robert Evans singled in Iorg and Michael Collins knocked in Sumner with a ground ball to first, to make it 12-7.

Alabama scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on Chad White's two-RBI single, giving the Crimson Tide the 14-7 lead.

Allred took the loss for the Bulldogs, as he was the first of six Samford pitchers used in the game. Jared Woodward (4-1) got the win for Alabama. Woodward gave up 10 hits and struck out five through six innings before giving way to Eric Mennen who got the save. Iorg and Scott Fowler each pitched two innings of relief. Iorg gave up one hit and no runs while Fowler gave up two runs on four hits.

Sumner, Robert Evans, Owen and Snowden each had two hits for Samford while Caldwell, Eric Hollis, Allred, Sae Evans, Mario White, Denson and Iorg each had one hit.

Brown led Alabama going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Garner finished 2-for-2 with five RBI.

Samford will host Jacksonville St. in a key Atlantic Sun Conference series this weekend. Friday's game is set for 6 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.