May 3, 2002

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - McNeese St. scored four runs off five Samford errors in the sixth inning to break open a 2-2 tie and the Cowboys added three insurance runs over the next two innings to defeat the Bulldogs, 9-2 at Cowboy Diamond. The Bulldogs fell to 23-24 while McNeese improved to 26-20.

Samford out-hit the Cowboys 11-9 but committed a season-high eight team errors which led to three unearned runs. Rusty Begnaud picked up the win for the Cowboys. Begnaud gave up two runs on 10 hits while striking out six. Robert Evans (3-1) took the loss for Samford. Evans allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits while striking out one.

With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the sixth and runners on first and second, Robert Evans was called for a balk allowing a run to score. Head coach Tim Parenton argued the call, but the call stood and Parenton was thrown out of the game. The Cowboys took a 3-2 lead. McNeese St. went on to score three more runs off four Samford errors to take a 6-2 lead.

The Cowboys added one run in the seventh and two runs in the eighth to take the 9-2 lead.

Samford jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Heath Owen's two-RBI double down the right field line to score Cory Sumner and Grant Caldwell.

Owen, Caldwell, Eli Iorg and Joe Denson each had two hits for Samford. The Bulldogs stranded 12 base runners. Seth Lastrapes went 2-for-4 to lead the Cowboys.

Samford and McNeese St. play game two of the series tomorrow at 4 p.m.