Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Samford University freshman, Meghan Wagner, blasted a ninth-inning grand slam to lift the Bulldogs to a thrilling 9-5 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday at the Comfort Inn Classic hosted by Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

The victory was Samford's second of the day after the Bulldogs defeated Southern Miss, 5-2, in Saturday's first game.

With the pair of wins, Samford improved to a 7-6 overall record on the season. The Bulldogs will face tournament-host Mercer on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Mississippi Valley State took a one-run lead in the third inning of game two, but Samford rebounded to take the lead in the third inning and held it until the seventh when MVSU tied things up to go into extra innings.

The teams battled back and forth in the eighth inning and MVSU went up by a run again in the top of the ninth frame.

In the bottom of the ninth, Samford's Kelly Smith made it to first on an error when she attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt to send base runner Liz Pearse to third. Shelley Stanley then drew a walk to load the bases and Bethany Weisser put the ball in play to score Pearse, tie the game and load the bases for Wagner.

With two strikes against Samford's highly-touted freshman from Chico, Calif., Wagner launched her second career grand slam to win the game for the Bulldogs, 9-5. The blast was her second grand slam of the tournament and second in as many days.

The Bulldogs registered 12 hits in game two against MVSU. Trisha Holman went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Weisser finished 2-for-3 with one run and an RBI.

Junior Emilee Lewis started the game in the circle for the Bulldogs, but left with a no decision.

Samford's junior from Vacaville, Calif., pitched seven innings, allowed four hits, three runs, walked two and struck out three. Susanna Meyer relieved Lewis in the eighth inning with the game tied at 3-3.

Meyer hurled the final two innings to take the victory, allowing three hits and two unearned runs. The Bulldogs' sophomore from Davie, Fla., is now 4-3 on the season including the victory she earned earlier in the day against Southern Miss.

In Samford's opening game, the Bulldogs started with five runs in the bottom of the first inning against Southern Miss.

Pearse doubled to left-center field and advanced to third when Smith reached first base on an error. Stanley then doubled to left field to send home Pearse and Weisser followed with a single to score Smith.

Stanley later crossed the plate as Jenna Dempski reached first base on a Southern Miss error. The Golden Eagles' pitcher, Danielle Wymer, then hit Tracey Deaux with a pitch that brought Weisser in for run number four. Erin Hall plated the fifth run for the Bulldogs on a passed ball.

Southern Miss scored two runs of its own in the top of the fourth inning.

Jessica Huerta led off with a triple to center field and scored on a double by Ashley Brenan. Jennifer Fox then singled to plate Brenan, but that was all the Golden Eagles could squeeze past the Bulldogs' defense.

Meyer went the distance in the circle for Samford in game one, earning her third win of the season. She only allowed three hits, two runs, one walk and struck out seven batters. At the plate, the Bulldogs earned eight hits. Pearse and Stanley each tallied a pair of doubles.

The Bulldogs return to action on Sunday at the Comfort Inn Classic in Macon, Ga., when they face host Mercer University at 1:00 p.m.