April 19, 2002

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Grant Caldwell's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scored Kip Snowden as Samford (20-19, 7-12 A-Sun) rallied for a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Jacksonville State (15-23, 1-14 A-Sun) in the first of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference baseball series Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

"It feels good to get a win again. We've been on the other side of those kind of games with five walk-off losses in the bottom of the ninth in conference," Samford head coach Tim Parenton said. "We were able to use the bench which was good for us. Now, we have to get ready to come out here tomorrow and try to do it again.

Alan Bryan (3-5) took the win in relief of starter Robert Evans, while Joey Shiflett (3-4) lasted just 1/3 of the ninth inning to get stuck with the loss. Bryan allowed one hit and no runs in 1.1 innings of work. Robert Evans pitched 7.2 innings giving up five runs on six hits to get the no decision.

Trailing 5-4 in the ninth, Samford's Sae Evans, who finished 3-for-4, singled through the left side and moved to second after Major Allred walked. Cory Sumner, who also went 3-for-4, doubled down the left field line to tie the game after Evans came across to score. Robert Evans was intentionally walked to load the bases before Caldwell's game-winning hit.

It looked like Jax State had control of the game after scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, thanks in part to a two-run homer by Evan Conley that tied the game at 4-4.

Heith Comer had a one-out triple and scored on Conley's third homer of the season. Travis Suereth was hit by a pitch and later scored on Brian Haskins RBI double to left center as the Gamecocks took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning. Haskins finished with a career-high three hits to lead JSU.

Jax State plated a run in the first and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, but Samford scored on in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 2-1. Ehren Wassermann's sacrifice fly scored Grant Caldwell who had doubled.

Caldwell and Wassermann each finished with two hits while Heath Owen and Joe Denson each had one hit.

The Bulldogs then took the lead after scoring three runs in the seventh inning, thanks to Sae Evans two-RBI double and Sumner's sacrifice fly.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.