March 6, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford goes for the season sweep of Auburn Wednesday when the Bulldogs host the Tigers at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford won the first meeting this season 5-2 back on Feb. 12.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Derek Tharpe struck out seven through 7.1 innings and senior designated hitter Major Allred went 2-for-2 with one RBI to lead Samford to the 5-2 win over then No. 25 Auburn. Tharpe held the Tigers to two runs on seven hits before giving way to Ehren Wassermann who was credited with the save. Samford took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth before Auburn cut it to 2-1 in the bottom portion of the inning. Joe Denson's solo home run in the fifth gave Samford a 3-1 lead. The Tigers cut their deficit to 3-2 on Tug Hulett's RBI single in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Cory Sumner tripled down the right field line to score two more runs and Wassermann held the Tigers scoreless in the final inning to give the Bulldogs their first win over Auburn under Tim Parenton.

The Bulldogs are off to their best start under Parenton at 8-5. Samford is coming off a three-game conference series at Mercer in which the team took the series by winning 2-of-3. The Bulldogs won Friday's game, 4-1 behind Heath Owen's four RBI performance. Junior right-hander Frank Allen Yeilding earned his second win of the season allowing one run through seven innings. Samford dropped game two, 8-6 but bounced back to defeat Mercer 11-6 in the final game of the series. Owen went 3-for-5 with two RBI and finished the series 5-for-13 with 6 RBI. Freshman right-hander Scott Fowler will get the call on the mound against the Tigers Wednesday. Fowler is 0-0 on the season with a 7.36 ERA.

Auburn defeated UAB Tuesday 13-1 and continues its Birmingham tour tonight against the Bulldogs. Javon Moran went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Tigers against the Blazers. Scott Schade was 2-for-5 with four RBI. Freshman left-handed pither Reid Price will start on the mound for the Tigers Wednesday. Price is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA.