April 3, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Robert Evans and Joe Denson each had three hits to lead the Samford bats as the Bulldogs defeated Alabama A&M, 18-1 in college baseball Wednesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford (19-14) scored 18 unanswered runs on its way to its second nonconference win in two days and second win over A&M (11-18) in eight days.

Robert Evans extended his hitting streak to 24 games, going 3-for-4 with three RBI while Denson was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI. Casey Graham picked up his second win of the season in relief of Major Allred. Allred pitched three innings, striking out six and giving up the one run on four hits. Graham struck out three in two innings and held A&M to three hits.

Samford pounded A&M pitching for 17 hits while allowing only seven hits and forcing A&M into four errors and 11 unearned runs. Charles Kinder (0-1) took the loss for A&M. After Alabama A&M took a 1-0 lead on Brian Rice's RBI-single to left field, Samford tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first on Sae Evans infield single scoring Cory Sumner.

Designated hitter Ehren Wassermann led off the bottom of the second with a double to deep center field and scored on Denson's sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. After Eli Iorg singled and Sumner walked, Robert Evans hit a three-run home run over the right field wall extending Samford's lead to 5-1.

Samford added one run in the third on Iorg's single up the middle scoring Wassermann, who had doubled making it 6-1. The Bulldogs then exploded for four more runs in the fifth. With one out, Jeff Stephens singled and advanced to second when Iorg reached on an error. Denson followed with a double to left for two RBI and an 8-1 Samford lead. Sumner then singled in Denson and scored on Josh Rhodes single to left field, making it 10-1.

The Bulldogs put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with eight runs. With two outs and Stephens on base courtesy of a walk, Denson singled. Collins then reached on an error to load the bases. Mario White drove in two runs with a single to left field, giving Samford a 12-1 lead. Collins scored on another A&M error to make it 13-1. Back- to-back RBI-singles by Rhodes and Sae Evans gave Samford a 15-1 lead. The Bulldogs scored the final three runs on a wild pitch, a walk and Stephens' hit into a fielder's choice.

Rhodes, Sae Evans, Wassermann and Iorg each finished with two hits while Sumner, White and Stephens each had one hit.Alvin Hall and Rice both had two hits for Alabama A&M.

Samford has this weekend off before returning to action next week. The Bulldogs travel to Starkville, Miss. next Tuesday to play Miss. State in a nonconference game.