March 15, 2003

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break open game one of the doubleheader and Bruin southpaw Alex Renes pitched a complete game striking out six batters in game two as Belmont completed the Atlantic Sun series sweep, 6-2 and 5-1, Saturday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Samford fell to 5-15 and 2-7 in the A-Sun while Belmont improved to 10-3 and 7-2 in the A-Sun.

Renes (2-0) gave up one earned run on five hits. Stephen Artz (0-2) took the loss for Samford allowing three earned runs on five hits while recording four strikeouts. Clay Peterson and Stephen Sundstrom each went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Michael Collins led Samford going 2-for-2.

Belmont scored one unearned run in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Bruins added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Artz hit Jason Warpool, Stephen Sundstrom hit a RBI triple to right field pushing the Bruins ahead 2-0. Sundstrom scored on a passed ball for a 3-0 Belmont lead.

Soukup unleashed a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-0. Freshman catcher Hunter Tubbs broke up the shut out with his first career home run over the left field wall in the top of the seventh to make it 5-1.

Belmont broke open the first game of the doubleheader in the bottom of the sixth. The Bruins scored three runs to take the 6-2 lead.

Samford took its first lead of the game 2-1 on Kip Snowden's fielder's choice scoring Sae Evans.

Belmont retook the lead 3-2 on Dennis Gomez's two-run home run over the right field wall.

Samford tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the fourth on Collins' RBI single scoring Justin Klinger.

The Bruins took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Soukup's double to left field scoring Ryan Pettit.

Shane Haas (3-1) got the win for the Bruins. Haas allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out four before giving way to Wil Tucker. Tucker picked up his A-Sun leading sixth save striking out two of the six batters he faced. Ehren Wassermann (1-4) took the loss for Samford. Wassermann gave up six runs on 13 hits in six innings and picked up three strikeouts.

Klinger led Samford going 2-for-3 with one run scored. Sae Evans, Robert Evans, Eric Hollis, Richard Bishop and Collins each added one hit. Pettit, Gomez, Soukup and Sundstrom each had two hits for Belmont.

Samford returns home next week for four games. The Bulldogs host No. 24 Alabama Wednesday at 6 p.m. Samford hosts defending A-Sun champions UCF Friday and Saturday.