April 22, 2007

Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Chandler Tidwell pitched 8.2 innings, giving up just two runs, to lead the Samford baseball team to a 4-2 win at Eastern Illinois Sunday afternoon. With the win, Samford takes the Ohio Valley Conference series, two games to one.

Samford improves to 20-20 overall and 6-9 in the OVC with the win. EIU drops to 17-17 overall and 7-7 in conference play.

For Samford at the plate, Garrett Rice went 2-for-4. Luke Peavy, Tripp Swann and Bill Whitehead drove in one run each for Samford. Whitehead hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, the second of his Samford career. Doug Denson entered the game in the ninth inning to get the final out and earn his fourth save of the season.

For EIU, Brett Nommensen went 3-for-3. Ryan Campbell was 2-for-4 for the Panthers. Brandon Murphy pitched 7.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits to take the loss on the mound.

Eastern Illinois took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Richie Derbak singled to center field to drive in Nommensen, who had earlier doubled, to give the Panthers the early one-run lead.

Samford came back with two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Whitehead's homer tied the game at 1-1. Peavy later singled up the middle to drive in Parker Gargis to give Samford the lead.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the ninth inning to push their lead to 4-1. Drew Reagan scored the first run of the inning on a balk. Rice later scored when Swann hit a sacrifice fly for a three-run Samford lead.

The Panthers added one final run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Adam Varrassi doubled to left-center field to drive in Nommensen to make the score 4-2.

Samford will return to action on Wednesday, April 25, when the Bulldogs play at Alabama. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.