April 27, 2003

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - The Samford Bulldogs won their school record tying 26th game of the season, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at Bear Field. However, the win came after a 2-1 loss to Mercer that eliminated Samford from the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.

The Bulldogs (26-17) finish the conference season with a 12-10 mark. Mercer improves to 31-21 on the year and 12-8 in the league. The Bears still have two conference games remaining but even if it losses both games, the Bears will win the tiebreaker by having split their series with conference leader Florida Atlantic.

Nikki Bowey gave Mercer a 1-0 lead in game one when she homered, her ninth of the season, to lead off the second inning. The run stood until the top of the seventh when the Bulldogs scratched across the tying run. Deanna Resmondo walked to lead off the seventh, and came around to score on a perfectly executed bunt single to left field by Angela Bednark.

Crystal Pardue got things started with a lead-off double in the bottom of the seventh. After a sacrifice bunt by Krista Rosentreter and a walk to Kristin Bissell, pinch-hitter Stephanee Finger delivered the game-winning run on a bad-hop single over Trisha Holman's head.

Rosentreter got a no-decision after allowing six hits and one run with three strikeouts over six innings of work. Amy Stauffer (7-6) picked up the win in relief after working a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts. Erin Landsburg (14-10) suffered the complete game loss and struck out six.

Bissell gave the Bears an early 1-0 lead in game two when she scored on a passed ball in the first. However, Samford took a 4-1 lead in the second by virtue of three singles and an error that led to two unearned runs.

Mercer battled back with four runs in its half of the second to take a brief 5-4 lead. Jennifer Dolan's bases clearing double tied the game at four and she scored the go-ahead run on a double by Bowey.

Samford answered right back, however, and tied the game at five when Angela Bednark doubled home Kelly Smith in the third. The Bulldogs scored the game-winner in the fourth when Trisha Holman came all the way around to score from first on a double error by Mercer first baseman Meghan Clark.

Landsburg earned the win in relief after taking the loss in game one. She allowed two hits and no runs over 5.1 innings and struck out three. Mercer's Kristi Montgomery (6-6) allowed seven hits and three earned runs and took the loss.

Samford returns home on Tuesday, April 29, to face cross-town rival UAB for senior Day. The Bulldogs will honor seniors Resmondo, Michelle Wright, and Amber Fuller prior to the single-game. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bulldog Field.