Samford Sweeps Doubleheader from Belmont :: Bulldogs stay alive for final berth in conference tournament

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Cory Sumner scored on an error by Belmont second baseman Scott Browning in the bottom of the ninth to give Samford a 4-3 win in extra innings in the second game of the doubleheader as the Bulldogs completed the sweep of the Bruins. Samford (26-29, 12-17 A-Sun) won game one, 7-2.

Samford and Belmont complete their series Sunday in what will be a crucial Atlantic Sun Conference game. With Mercer, Georgia St. and Campbell all losing Saturday, a Bulldog win Sunday would give Samford the final spot in the A-Sun tournament since the Bulldogs own the tiebreaker over both Mercer and Georgia St.

Ehren Wassermann (6-3) pitched a complete game nine innings allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out four. Will Tucker took the loss for Belmont in relief of Alex Renes. Renes gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out three in 6.2 innings. Michael Collins went 5-for-9 with one RBI and one run scored for Samford while Grant Caldwell went 3-for-8 with three RBI and a home run on Senior day.

With the game tied at 3 in the bottom of the ninth, Sumner led off the inning with a single to right center. After Sumner stole second, Michael Collins singled to move Sumner to third with no outs. Grant Caldwell hit a ball to Browning, who was drawn in tight, but the ball rolled in between his legs allowing Sumner to score the game-winning run.

Belmont took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh when Browning hit a two-run home run to dead center field. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Caldwell hit a solo home run, his second of the season, to left field tying the game and sending it into extra innings. Samford trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth. Eric Hollis led off the inning with an infield single. After Mario White laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch runner Josh Rhodes, Robert Evans hit a RBI double to score Rhodes tying the game at 1. With two outs, Eli Iorg singled through the right side to score Robert Evans giving Samford a 2-1 lead.

Sumner, Sae Evans and Robert Evans each had two hits while Hollis and Iorg each had one hit.

In game one, sophomore left-hander Derek Tharpe (4-6) gave up one earned run in a complete game performance while striking out five as Samford defeated the Bruins, 7-2. The Bulldogs scored seven runs off 12 hits. Cory Sumner gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead when he scored on Caldwell's single up the middle. Samford extended its lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third on another RBI single by Caldwell. The Bulldogs made it 4-0 in the bottom of fourth on RBI singles by Robert Evans and Michael Collins.

Belmont cut its deficit to 4-1 Wade Walter scored on an error in the top of the fifth. Iorg singled in Eric Hollis giving Samford a 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth and Sae Evans scored on Joe Denson's RBI single as the Bulldogs took a 6-1 lead.

The Bruins cut their deficit to 6-2 in the top of the sixth on Ryan Petitt's solo home run. However, Major Allred doubled in Heath Owen in the bottom of the sixth for the Bulldogs' final run.

Sumner, Hollis, Allred, Sae Evans, Iorg, Robert Evans and Denson each added one hit.

Cody Blackard took the loss for Belmont allowing six runs, five earned on 10 hits while striking out three. Walter finished the game 3-for-3 for Belmont. Stephen Sundstrom and Mike Martin each had two hits in game two.

Sunday's nine-inning game is set to begin at 1 p.m.