April 29, 2003

Box Score

BIRMIINGHAM, Ala. - Erin Landsburg squeezed home Abi Casillo with the only run of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Samford a 1-0 Senior Night victory over UAB at Bulldog Field Tuesday night.

Landsburg and UAB's Kelli Thompson hooked up in another classic pitcher's dual as they did back on March 18. In that game Thompson came away with the 1-0 win but Tuesday night belonged to Landsburg. The junior right-hander tossed 10 innings giving up four hits, two walks, and struck out nine Blazers for her sixth shutout of the season and improved to 15-10 on the season.

The win was the 27th of the season for Samford which sets a school record for most wins in a season. The Bulldogs are now 27-17 while UAB dropped to 27-24 on the year while Thompson drops to 12-8 despite pitching 9.2 innings giving up four hits and one unearned run. She walked five and struck out five.

Both teams threatened to score in the seventh inning. UAB had runners at first and third with one out when Jennifer McCall laid down a squeeze bunt, but Landsburg fielded the bunt and threw home quickly to catch Amanda Ellis in a run down. Once the out was made, the Bulldogs caught Kristen Stanfill too far off second base to turn an unusual 1-2-5-4-6 double play.

The Bulldogs mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. With Erin Hall on first base, Angela Bednark ripped a double off the left field fence which sent Hall to third. Thompson got Casillo to pop out to end the rally.

The international tie-breaker went into effect in the top of the 10th inning. In UAB's half, Stanfill was placed at second base and moved to third on a ground out by McCall. Landsburg then got Cliffanie Engram to pop-out to the shortstop and Sara Christophel to fly out to right field.

In the bottom of the 10th, Casillo was placed at second base and sacrificed to third by Trisha Holman. Landsburg then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that was fielded by the UAB third baseman who instinctively threw Landsburg out at first base but allowed the winning run to score.

Samford and UAB split the season series at 2-2. Both of Samford's wins were 1-0 victories, while UAB won a 1-0 game and an 11-8 game in 10 innings earlier in the season.

Both teams will wrap up the regular season this weekend. Samford will play a double header against the University of Mobile on Friday at 4 p.m. UAB plays host to Southern Miss on Saturday and Sunday.