March 3, 2002

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - MACON, Ga. - Heath Owen went 3-for-5 with with two RBI and Derek Tharpe struck out six through six innings to lead Samford to an 11-6 win over Mercer in game two of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Claude Smith Field. The Bulldogs took the Atlantic Sun Conference series two-games-to-one and improved to 8-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

After dropping game one of the doubleheader 8-6, Samford used a three-run fourth inning and four-run seventh inning to put the Bears away in game two. The Bulldogs forced Mercer into six errors. Samford scored 11 runs on 13 hits.

The Bulldogs led 7-0 after four innings but the Bears cut their deficit to 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Samford then went ahead 11-3 in the top of the sixth before holding on for the win.

Grant Caldwell finished game two 2-for-5 with three RBI while Kip Snowden also finished 2-for-5. Michael Collins went 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.

In game one, Mercer took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and extended its lead to 4-0 in the third. Pat Murphy led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Samford error with two outs, giving Mercer a 2-0 lead. Mike Appaluci then hit a two-run home run for the Bears.

Samford cut its deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fifth. Joe Denson singled and Eli Iorg doubled to right center, putting two runners in scoring position. Michael Collins grounded out to score Denson and Iorg scored Cory Sumner's infield single.

The Bears took an 8-2 lead in the bottom fifth inning on four runs on six hits. But, Samford rallied in the top of seventh with four runs of its own. Iorg doubled to right field to lead off the inning and scored on a RBI-single by Ehren Wasssermann. Samford cut the lead to 8-4 after Wassermann scored on an error and Robert Evans scored on a RBI-single by Major Allred. The Bulldogs added two more runs on a balk and Sae Evan's single to left field. Samford had the tying run at the plate but Mercer got Denson to strike out to end the game.

Iorg finished game one 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Sumner, Robert Evans, Caldwell, Allred, Denson and Wassermann each finished with one hit.

Samford returns to action Wednesday when they host Auburn at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field before traveling to Jacksonville for another Atlantic Sun Conference series next weekend.