March 1, 2002

Box Score

MACON, Ga. - Heath Owen went 2-for-4 with four RBI and Frank Allen Yeilding picked up his second win of the season as Samford defeated Mercer, 4-1 in Atlantic Sun Conference action Friday afternoon. Samford improved to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the A-Sun while Mercer fell to 6-8 and 0-1 in the conference.

Yeilding allowed only one run on six hits through seven innings while striking out five. Ehren Wassermann earned his second save of the season, striking out two of the six batters he faced.

Samford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI-single by Heath Owen. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third on Owen's three-run home run over the right center field wall.

The Bears cut into Samford's lead when David Harwell scored on a wild pitch making it 4-1.

Samford then made several defensive plays including three catches on the warning track, two by Sae Evans and one by Cory Sumner, to kill any chance of a Mercer come back.

Brian Jones (2-2) took the loss for Mercer. Jones pitched a complete game nine innings and struck out nine for the Bears.

Robert Evans also went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Bulldogs while Grant Caldwell and Major Allred each had one hit.

Samford and Mercer will try to complete the series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.