April 22, 2004

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford scored four runs in the first inning and three Bulldog pitchers allowed one hit each in a combined shutout to hand UAB its 14th-straight loss at George Ward Park on Thursday night.

Samford (20-26) took advantage of two UAB errors to score three unearned runs in the opening frame. Shelley Stanley lined an RBI single to centerfield that scored Trisha Holman from second base. Stanley took second on the throw and advanced to third as the throw home got away. Kelly Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Stanley with the Bulldogs' second run.

After Jenna Dempski reached on an error, the inning appeared to end as Erin Hall's comebacker to UAB pitcher Tara Higashino (8-18) went off her glove and hit Dempski in the base-path. Base umpire Craig Hyde called Dempski out for the third out but after checking with home plate umpire Rusty Riley overturned his call placing Dempski at second and Hall at first with two outs. Bridgett Smith walked to load the bases in front of back-to-back RBI-singles by Kayla Watkins and Liz Pearse. Samford sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four times on five hits in the first inning.

Erin Landsburg picked up the win to improve to 7-11 on the season. She pitched the first three innings of the split game giving up a lead-off double to Sara Christophel before retiring nine-straight batters. Susanna Meyer came on in the fourth inning to pitch three innings allowing one hit and striking out four UAB batters. Emilee Lewis pitched the seventh giving up just a single. Samford pitchers did not walk a batter and faced just four batters over the minimum.

Christophel had two of UAB's three hits while Holly Krzan had the third as the Blazers fall to 16-32 on the season.

Stanley and Holman each went 2-4 for the Bulldogs who return to Ohio Valley Conference action on Saturday as they travel to Tennessee Tech. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.