March 29, 2003

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Derek Hutton hit two two-run home runs in the first game of the doubleheader and No. 18 FAU scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning in game two as the Blue Wave completed the series sweep of the Bulldogs, 5-4, and 6-2, at FAU Stadium Saturday afternoon. Samford fell to 5-22 on the season and 2-13 in the conference while FAU improved to 27-7 and 12-3 in the conference.

Matt Pali led FAU going 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Justin Klinger went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Travis NeSmith (6-1) earned the win surrendering two runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Lee Brady (0-1) suffered the loss for Samford allowing three earned runs on five hits.

Samford jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Klinger's RBI single scoring Matt Alling. FAU scored four runs in the bottom of the second on one hit and four walks to take a 4-1 lead.

Pali's solo home run in the bottom of the fifth made it 5-1 in favor of the Blue Wave. Sae Evans homered to left center pulling the Bulldogs within 5-2 at the top of the sixth inning.

FAU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth for the 6-2 lead.

In game one, FAU rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to win 5-4. Hutton went 3-for-4 with four RBI including two home runs. Matt Alling led Samford going 3-for-4 with one run scored. Chris Pillbury (7-2) gave up three earned runs on four hits in six innings while striking out three to get the win for FAU. Alan Bryan (0-4) took the loss allowing four earned runs on 10 hits and recording three strikeouts.

The Bulldogs had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh with one out, but Chris Della Rocco got Justin Klinger to ground out into a double play to save the game for FAU.

Samford took a 1-0 lead on two FAU errors in the top of the second.

The Bulldogs extended it to 2-0 when Matt Alling bunted for an infield single and advanced to third on an error. Alling scored on Sae Evans' sacrifice fly. Robert Evans followed with his first home run of the season over the right field wall giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.

Hutton's two-run home run with two outs pulled FAU within 3-2 and the Blue Wave tied the game, 3-3, on Matt Pali's RBI single in the bottom of the third.

Hutton's second two-run home run of the game gave the Blue Wave a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Samford came within 5-4 in the top of the fifth. Michael Collins walked and advanced to third on Alling's double to left field. Sae Evans' flied out to left field to score Collins.

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday when they travel to Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. for a doubleheader. The series had been rescheduled after the Mar. 5, rainout in Birmingham.