Feb. 7, 2001

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford Bulldogs opened the 2001 softball season with new uniforms and new optimism on Wednesday afternoon at Samford Park but it would be Auburn that would finish the day up beat. The Tigers swept the Bulldogs 2-1 and 9-1 using fine pitching performances by Jennifer Lofton and Lily DuBois.

Lofton and Samford's Brianne Mertens each pitched solid games in the opener. Lofton went the distance giving up one run on three hits while striking out eight. Mertens also threw a complete game giving up two runs on six hits and striking out four.

Auburn got on the board in the third inning when Kim Freeland worked a lead-off walk and came around to score on a two-out bases loaded single by Michelle Martin. Samford would tie the game in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out solo home run by Jennifer Graham to straight away center field. The Tigers got the run back in the fifth as once again Martin produced a two-out hit which scored Ashley Moore from second base.

Auburn took control of game two early as Samford made a pair of early mistakes in the field. The Tigers pushed across two unearned runs in the first inning and then added five runs in the second frame off Samford starter Jennifer Morris. Jodie Van Ooyen went 3-3 with two runs scored in the night cap and Jen Kraemer was 2-3 with three RBI.

Samford's Abi Casillo hit a solo-home run in the third inning to put the Bulldogs on the board. Casillo added an infield hit in the fifth inning to account for both Samford hits in the game.

Moore hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to put Auburn up 9-1. Dubois pitched the five-inning complete game giving up just one run on two hits and striking out three. Morris took the loss for Samford.

The Bulldogs will take to the road this weekend as they travel to Tuscaloosa, to compete in the Bama Bash Tournament. Samford will face Tennessee Tech on Friday at 1:30 p.m.