Feb. 8, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Joe Denson hit a walk-off RBI sacrifice in the first game of the doubleheader and senior right-hander Frank Allen Yeilding picked up his first win in the second game as the Bulldogs (2-0) swept VMI, 2-1 and 3-1, in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and two earned runs in 14 innings against the Keydets (0-5).

Yeilding, who hadn't pitched since last March, struck out three batters in 3.2 innings of work and gave up only two hits before being relieved by Casey Graham and Robert Evans in the second game. Evans picked up his first save of the season striking out one batter in one inning of work. Red-shirt freshman Matt Alling led the Bulldogs going 2-for-2 with one run scored and an RBI. Phil Hendrix (0-2) took the loss for VMI in game two. Hendrix struck out five while allowing only one earned run in six innings.

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Ehren Wassermann reached on an error. Wassermann advanced to second on Denson's sacrifice fly and scored on Alling's RBI single up the middle. Robert Evans doubled down the left field line. Alling then scored on a wild pitch.

Samford extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Hollis singled to lead off the inning and later scored on Wassermann's RBI single to right field.

Samford head coach Tim Parenton received a plaque from Athletics Director Bob Roller before the start of the 2003 season. Parenton earned his 100th career victory against Belmont in the 2002 regular season finale.

VMI cut into Samford's lead in the top of the sixth inning. Matt Smith scored on Justin Briggs' RBI sacrifice to make it 3-1. The Keydets threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Andy Barden led off the inning with a single, and Brandon Massenburg was hit by a pitch, putting the tying runs on base with no outs. Robert Evans then struck out J.R. Royston and got B.T. Good to ground out. Matt Cage popped up to second base to end the game.

Robert Evans, Hollis, Kip Snowden and Wassermann each had one hit.

Freshman right-hander Chandler Tidwell picked up his first career win in game one of the doubleheader as the Bulldogs rallied for the 2-1 win. Tidwell relieved the starter Wassermann and gave up one hit and no runs in three innings. Wassermann struck out four and allowed one earned run in four innings to get the no decision. Duke Acors took the loss for VMI. Acors allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings while striking out six.

Samford trailed 1-0 after five innings in game one. VMI scored in the top of the fourth on Massenburg's RBI double scoring Smith. The Keydets were looking to go ahead 2-0 when Allan Wimmer singled to right field with two outs. Robert Evans gunned down Masenburg at home plate to end the inning.

The Bulldogs tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hollis singled through the left side to score Robert Evans who led off the inning with a single to left field.

After Tidwell sat the Keydets down in order in the top of the seventh, Denson came through with the game-winner in the bottom of the inning. Sae Evans led off the seventh with a single. After Richard Bishop reached on an error, Michael Collins hit an infield single to load the bases with no outs. Denson hit the fly ball to right field scoring Sae Evans.

Collins finished 2-for-3 in game one. Robert Evans, Heath Owen, Joe Denson and Sae Evans each had one hit. Robert Evans also recorded two outfield assists while freshman Justin Klinger added one outfield assist. Smith led the Keydets going 1-for-2 at the plate. Massenburg finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Samford and VMI wrap up the series with a single game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.