March 24, 2002

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A three-run home run by Maine's Erica Sobel in the top of the eighth inning propelled the Black Bears to a 5-4 victory over Samford in the consolation game of the Gator Invitational Sunday morning.

Sobel's home run was a part of a four-run eighth inning that gave Maine a 5-1 lead heading into the Bulldogs last at bat. The Bulldogs would not suffer defeat easily as Michelle Wright and Janet Middleton led off the inning with a singles to put runners at first and second. Angela Bednark hit into a double play which seemed to end the threat but back-to-back hits by Kelly Smith and Mindy Shunnarah and a walk to Dana Saffles loaded the bases with the score 5-2. Deanna Resmondo followed with a single up the middle which scored Smith and Shunnarah but Saffles was caught off base and tagged out to end the game.

The extra inning was not a sign of the first seven innings of the game. Maine scratched a cross a run in the top of the second inning when Nicole Taylor hit a two-out single to score Sobel who went 3-4 in the game.

Samford responded with a run the fifth inning when Rebekah Phillips laced a double down the left field line which scored Saffles to tie the game.

Both teams had chances to score in the seventh inning. In the top half, Maine had a runner at third with one out. Rachel Bain hit a fly ball to center field which was caught by Wright who fired a strike to the plate to cut down Katherine Churchill trying to score to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Saffles walked to lead off but the Bulldogs inability to bunt runners over once again showed as the next two batters struck out to send the game into extra innings.

Smith, Shunnarah, and Resomondo each had two hits for the Bulldogs. Middleton had a single which extended her hitting streak to eight games and gave her a .500 average for the tournament.

Samford will head to Deland, Fla., next where it will begin Atlantic Sun Conference play against at Stetson on Tuesday with a double header that begins at 5 p.m. CT.