April 2, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the second straight-week the Samford Bulldogs dropped an Atlantic Sun conference double header by giving up the winning run in the seventh inning of game one and being shut out in game two.

This time it was Troy State that picked up a bases loaded single in the top of the seventh to win game one 3-2 and then Ashley Floyd and Cassie Wilkenson shut down the Bulldogs in game two 5-0.

Troy State (32-10, 2-0 A-Sun) built a 2-0 lead in the opener on a RBI-double by Erin Flater in the third inning and a RBI-double by Peggy Swift in the fourth inning.

Samford (13-19, 0-4 A-Sun) battled back with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth as Michelle Wright scored on a Troy State error. In the sixth Janet Middleton delivered a two-out single to scored Rebekah Phillips and tie the score.

Erin Landsburg got the first two outs in the top of the seventh and then hit Jenny Boyd. Mindy Porep blooped a single between the pitcher and the shortstop, and Tamra Howran walked to load the bases. Flater then hit a Texas-league single to left field that scored Boyd, Porep was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Kelly Smith to end the inning.

In the second game, Troy State scored four runs in the second inning off Samford starter Amber Fuller. Bonnie Belin hit a two-run homer to give TSU a 2-0 lead. Porep had an RBI-double and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead. Molly Homer hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to make the final score 5-0.

Samford's only threat came in the sixth inning when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with no-one out. Michelle Wright had an infield single followed by a double by Middleton. Angela Bednark, who was pitched around all day, was intentionally walked. But Wilkenson got a strikeout and a double play to keep the shutout.

Wright had two of Samford's four hits in the nightcap, while Middleton went 2-6 on the day with an RBI. Dana Saffles, Phillips, Michelle Dickey, and Mindy Shunnarah each had hits for the Bulldogs. Shunnarah made her 202 start as a Bulldog which is a new school record. She also broke the school record for most at bats in a career in the second game. She has now has 594 career at bats.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday as they travel to Buies Creek, N.C. for an important Atlantic Sun match-up with Campbell. The double header begins at 4 p.m. CT.