March 12, 2003

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Justin Klinger and Sae Evans each recorded three hits and Samford scattered a season-high 16 hits off five Middle Tennessee pitchers as the Bulldogs knocked off the Blue Raiders, 14-6, Wednesday afternoon in a nonconference baseball game. The Bulldogs (5-12) and Blue Raiders (5-7) spilt the two-game series.

Karl Huch (1-0) picked up his first career win allowing two runs through five innings. Joe Denson and Chandler Tidwell each recorded two strikeouts in relief. Steven Kines (0-1) took the loss for Middle Tennessee. Kines gave up five earned runs on seven hits.

Klinger finished the game 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI while Sae Evans went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Jeff Dils was 2-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI. Brett Carroll led MTSU going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Samford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Matt Alling led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Richard Bishop knocked in Alling for the first run of the game.

The Bulldogs chased Middle Tennessee starter Steven Kines with five runs on six hits in the top of the fifth. Michael Collins singled through the right side and advanced to third on an error by the right fielder. Klinger drove in Collins with a single to center field to make it 2-0. Robert Evans doubled to left giving Samford runners on first and third with no outs. Hunter Tubbs' sacrifice fly scored Klinger. Jeff Dils' RBI singled gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. Sae Evans followed with a RBI triple and scored on Bishop's single for a 6-0 Samford lead.

Klinger's two-run home run in the top of the third gave the Bulldogs an 8-0 lead. The Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the fourth. Matt Alling singled and moved to third on Sae Evans' double. Alling scored on a wild pitch and Sae Evans scored on Collins' fielder's choice extending the Bulldog lead to 10-0.

Middle Tennessee pulled within 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth on three hits.

Sae Evans' RBI double scored Alling to make it 11-2 in the top of the sixth. The Blue Raiders added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Brett Carroll hit a solo home run over the left field wall as MTSU trailed 11-3. Chuck Akers' sacrifice fly scored Clif Thomas' for an 11-4 score.

Back-to-back doubles by Carroll and Jerry Knox pulled Middle Tennessee within 11-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Bulldogs added three runs in the top of the ninth inning. After Owen and Collins walked to lead off the inning, Klinger knocked a single out of a drawn in infield to score Justin Worthington who was pinch running. Dils' two-RBI single to left center scored Collins and Klinger giving Samford the 14-6 lead.

Alling, Owen and Robert Evans each had two hits for Samford.

The Bulldogs return to Tennessee this weekend when they travel to Belmont Friday and Saturday for an Atlantic Sun Conference Series. Friday's first-pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.