March 19, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Sophomore first baseman Eric Hollis drove in Robert Evans in the bottom of the seventh as Samford defeated cross-town rival Birmingham-Southern, 3-2 Tuesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The Bulldogs (14-9) gave head coach Tim Parenton his first ever win against BSC in seven tries while extending the Panthers' (13-11) losing streak to seven games.

Samford out-hit BSC, 13-9 getting three hits from each Robert Evans, Sae Evans and Eli Iorg. But the Bulldogs left 13 runners on base to BSC's eight. Freshman right-hander Alan Bryan struck out eight and gave up two runs on eight hits to get the no decision. Junior Ehren Wassermann picked up the win in relief, striking out one and giving up one hit through 2.1 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs played small ball in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. Robert Evans led off with a bunt single. Grant Caldwell's sacrifice bunt was then mishandled by the BSC pitcher and Caldwell reached base safely, giving Samford two runners on base with no outs. After Josh Rhodes moved the runners over with another sacrifice bunt, Hollis singled to right field to score Robert Evans, giving Samford the 3-2 lead. Wassermann then held the Panthers scoreless over the next inning and a half, getting Michael Cline to fly out to right field for the final out of the game.

Birmingham-Southern jumped out to a 2-0 lead on three hits in the top of the third. Cline singled to third base and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Adam Pease, giving BSC the 1-0 lead. Connor Robertson singled up the middle to bring Cory Hamrick home and extend the Panther lead.

Samford rallied in the bottom half of the third when Cory Sumner singled up the middle to score Iorg, cutting into the BSC lead, 2-1. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Iorg scoring Sae Evans.

Derek Griffith (0-3) took the loss for the Panthers striking out three through two innings of work and giving up one run. Griffith relieved starter Jon Renfro, who gave up two runs on 10 hits and struck out one. Cline led the Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one run scored. Mac Godwin and Michael Wydner each had two hits for BSC.

Samford and BSC continue its cross-town series when the Bulldogs travel to face the Panthers at Scrushy-Striplin field on BSC's campus at 7 p.m. Wednesday.