March 14, 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont's Cody Blackard allowed two runs on four hits and the Bruins scored four unearned runs off four Samford errors as Belmont defeated the Bulldogs, 5-2, in the first game of the Atlantic Sun Conference Series at Greer Stadium. Belmont improved to 8-3 and 5-2 in the A-Sun while Samford fell to 5-13 and 2-5 in the A-Sun.

Frank Allen Yeilding (1-4) took the loss despite holding the Bruins to one earned run on seven hits in seven innings of work. Blackard (2-1) pitched a complete game allowing the two runs and recording four strikeouts. Dan Soukup went 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Bruins while Joe Novak went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Kip Snowden led Samford going 1-for-1 with two RBI.

The Bulldogs trailed 4-0 heading into the top of the seventh After Blackard hit Justin Klinger, Robert Evans singled to left field for Samford's second hit of the game. Hunter Tubbs walked to load the bases. Kip Snowden singled to right field scoring Klinger and Robert Evans as Samford only trailed, 4-2. With runners on first and third with one out, Belmont's catcher Jason Warpool tried to pick Tubbs off third base, but hit Tubbs in the back with the ball. The home plate umpire called Tubbs out for purposely getting in the way of the throw to third. Jeff Dils flied out to deep left field for the final out of the inning.

Belmont got on the scoreboard first with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Dennis Gomez drew a walk and advanced to third on en error. Soukup singled in Gomez for a 1-0 lead.

The Bruins scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on three Samford errors. After Warpool reached on an error by the second baseman, Clay Peterson walked. Stephen Sundstrom's infield singled scored Warpool for 2-0 Belmont advantage. Novak's RBI single scored Peterson. Clay Dobner reached base on an error by the third baseman scoring Novak for the 4-0 Belmont lead.

Soukup's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh provided Belmont's final run of the game.

Sae Evans, Robert Evans and Eric Hollis each had one hit for Samford.

The Bulldogs and Bruins wrap up the series Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.