April 5, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - Eric Hollis hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in game one and senior right-hander Ehren Wassermann allowed one earned run in a complete-game performance in game two to pick up his second win of the day as Samford swept the doubleheader from Troy State, 9-8, and 5-1 Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. It was the Bulldogs (9-23, 4-14 A-Sun) first conference series win of the season as Samford won the series two games to three.

Wassermann (4-5) picked up his second win of the day in game two after earning the win in relief in the first game of the doubleheader. He allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out three in game two. Mal Winters (2-3) suffered the loss allowing three earned runs on eight hits in six innings. Sae Evans and Justin Klinger each went 2-for-3. Klinger added two RBI.

Wassermann allowed one earned run on eight hits in 10 2/3 innings while striking out six batters in two games against the Trojans Saturday. It was his third win of the week after shutting out Alabama A&M Tuesday, 9-0. In three games this week, the senior right-hander allowed one earned run in 17 2/3 innings, while striking out 15 batters and allowing one run on 12 hits. It was also the first time since the 2001 season that a Bulldog pitcher picked up two wins in a doubleheader. Ty Dedmon defeated Mercer, 7-6 and 3-1 during the 2001 season.

In game two, the Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Matt Alling singled up the middle and moved to third on Sae Evans' single to center field. Robert Evans flied out to right field scoring the first run of the game. Sae Evans made it 2-0 when he scored on an error by the second baseman. Justin Klinger's fourth home run of the season gave Samford a 4-0 advantage. Samford's final run of the inning came when Kip Snowden scored on a wild pitch.

Wassermann allowed his first earned run in 13 innings in the top of the third. Greg Hardy doubled to left field and scored on Trent Cox's ground out cutting Troy State's deficit to, 5-1. However, Wassermann allowed only four hits the rest of the game. Five different Trojans had one hit.

In game one, Hollis drove the first pitch of the 10th inning over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and third of his career giving Samford the 9-8 win.

Eric Hollis' walk-off home run in the top of 10th inning gave the Bulldogs the 9-8 win game one Saturday.

Wassermann relieved starter Alan Bryan in the top of the seventh and pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball to earn the win. Wassermann struck out three batters and held TSU to three hits. Bryan pitched 6 1/3 innings of effective baseball to earn the no decision. He gave up five earned runs on 13 hits while striking out three. Robert Evans led Samford going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Joe Denson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Paul Darby (1-4) took the loss in relief. Darby allowed one earned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. TSU starter Justin Eason gave up seven earned runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings before being chased in the fourth inning.

Troy State overcame a 7-3 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the seventh on Brian Lipman's RBI single, which scored Chad Howard. Samford tied the game, 8-8, in the bottom of the seventh on two Trojan errors. David Henry's pinch-hit single with one out put the tying run on. An errant pick-off attempt by Darby allowed Mario White, who was pinch-running for Henry, to advance to third. Howard's throw to third sailed wide allowing White to score the tying the run.

Troy State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Casey O'Quinn reached third on an error by the right fielder. Wade Miller followed with his fourth home run of the season.

Brad Sheffield's RBI sacrifice fly scored Glen Hardy in the top of second as the Trojans led 3-0. The Bulldogs cut their deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame. Joe Denson doubled down the left field line leading off the inning. Matt Alling singled giving the Bulldogs runners on the corners. Justin Klinger grounded out to score Denson to make it, 3-1. An error by the center fielder allowed Alling to score from third pulling Samford closer.

The Bulldogs used a five-run fourth inning to take their first lead of the game, 7-3. Snowden led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Michael Collins then singled through the right side putting runners on the corners. Wassermann walked to load the bases with no outs. Denson doubled in Snowden and Collins giving Samford a 4-3 lead. Darby hit Alling to load the bases again with no outs. Sae Evans reached base on a fielder's choice scoring Wassermann for a 5-3 Bulldog lead. Robert Evans' RBI single and Klinger's sacrifice fly produced the 7-3 score.

Howard's bunt single started a four-run inning for the Trojans in the top of the sixth. Brian Lipman followed with a single as TSU had runners with no outs. Hardy's sacrifice fly plated Howard cutting into the Samford lead, 7-4. Sheffield's single to right center scored Lipman to make it 7-5. Troy State tied the game, 7-7, with two outs. Brandon Atkins's single up the middle scored Trent Cox, but Sae Evans overran the ball in center field allowing Sheffield to score.

TSU out-hit Samford, 16-12. Both teams committed three errors. Atkins, Miller, Howard, Lipman, Hardy, Lenny Maier and Cox each had two hits for Troy State. Sheffield and Miller each added two RBI. Alling went 2-for-4 with one run scored in game one.

The Bulldogs have a week off before heading to Boiling Springs, N.C. to face A-Sun newcomer Gardner-Webb next weekend.