March 22, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Florida Atlantic scored seven runs in the top of the seventh as the Blue Wave rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Samford, 9-4 at Joe Lee Griffin Field Friday evening. FAU (20-6) stayed perfect in the Atlantic Sun at 4-0 while the Bulldogs dropped to 14-10 on the season and 5-5 in the A-Sun.

Samford out-hit FAU 11-9, but stranded 12 runners on base and committed three errors in the contest. Junior right-hander Frank Allen Yeilding (4-2) took the loss for Samford after holding the Blue Wave to one hit through six innings. Yeilding gave up two hits and struck out eight in the game before giving way to Ehren Wassermann.

Samford scored one run in each the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Cory Sumner scored on Major Allred's sacrifice fly, putting the Bulldogs ahead 1-0 in the third. Eli Iorg's sacrifice fly scored Kip Snowden in the bottom of the fourth as Samford led 2-0. Grant Caldwell scored the next run in the bottom of the fifth. Caldwell doubled and advanced on another sacrifice fly by Allred. Heath Owen then reached on an error to score Caldwell.

FAU then scored seven runs on five hits and two Samford errors in the seventh. Robert Orton singled in Mike Valdes to pull FAU within 3-1. After a walk loaded the bases, Jeff Fiorentino was hit by a pitch to bring home another run, making it 3-2. The Blue Wave scored five more runs in the inning on RBI-singles by Derek Hutton and Mike Cox, L.J. Biernbaum's sacrifice fly and a Matt Pali two-RBI single as FAU led, 7-3.

FAU added two more runs in the top of the ninth when Pali hit a two-run home run to center field, giving the Blue Wave a 9-3 lead.

Samford tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases with one out. Josh Rhodes singled to center field to score Robert Evans. But, Sae Evans and Kip Snowden both struck out to end the game.

Chris Pillsbury (5-0) got the win for FAU. Pillsbury gave up seven hits through seven innings while striking out seven. Caldwell led Samford going 4-for-5 while Sumner finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Cox and Pali each had two hits for FAU. Pali also added four RBI.

Samford and FAU will conclude their series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.