May 17, 2002
Samford wraps up its regular season this weekend fighting for the final spot in next week's Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. The Bulldogs host Belmont (22-27, 9-17 A-Sun) on senior weekend. Friday's game is set for 6 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader set for 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs still have an outside chance of making the A-Sun Tournament. Samford needs to sweep the Bruins and hope Mercer, Georgia St. and Campbell all lose games. The Bulldogs hold the tiebreaker over Mercer and Georgia St.
Samford (24-29, 10-17 A-Sun) dropped its final non-conference game of the season to Mississippi St. Wednesday night, 13-7. Sophomore second baseman Michael Collins went 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace the Bulldogs. With the game tied at 7, State scored six runs in the top ninth overcoming a season-high seven errors in the win.
Belmont wrapped up its non-conference schedule earlier in the week on the road. The Bruins blanked UT-Martin, 8-0 Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader before dropping the second game to the Skyhawks, 8-2. Austin Peay defeated Belmont 10-6 Wednesday night. Will Tucker pitched a five-hit shutout in the first game against Martin. Wade Walter finished the contest 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Walter finished the three games 6-for-8 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Samford will send sophomore left-hander Derek Tharpe (3-6, 5.54 ERA) to the mound in Friday's contest. Belmont's weekend rotation will feature left-hander Cody Blackard (5-6, 4.65 ERA), right-hander Shane Haas (5-6, 4.90 ERA) and left-hander Alex Renes (3-7, 6.54 ERA).
Sophomore second baseman Michael Collins went 2-for-3 with three RBI against Miss. St. Collins is riding a six-game hitting streak, going 12-for-20 at the plate with seven RBI. Collins is hitting .317 with 17 RBI overall and .345 with eight RBI in Atlantic Sun Conference games.
Head coach Tim Parenton is 1-2 all-time against Belmont with the Bruins winning two-of-three games in Parenton's first season at Samford in 1998. Belmont defeated Samford, 9-2 and 8-6 while the Bulldogs won the other game, 10-6.
Next week's A-Sun Tournament gets underway Wednesday with the No. 1 seed and No. 6 seed playing at 11 a.m. The Tournament will be played in DeLand, Fla., and hosted by Stetson University.
