March 9, 2001
Box Score
PELHAM, Ala. - Samford University softball pounded out season highs of 18 hits and 10 runs as the Bulldogs defeated Alabama A&M 10-2, then held off Austin Peay 4-3 at the Samford Invitational tournament on Friday.
Samford (7-16) trailed 2-0 in the first inning against Alabama A&M, but allowed A&M only three hits over the next five innings while SU scored at least one run in every inning but the third. Jennifer Morris (1-3) pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Against Austin Plays (2-9), the Bulldogs led 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh before surrendering a two-run home run by Brooke Platt to cut the lead to 4-3. Brianne Mertens (5-8) struck out 13 and pitched a complete game as Samford went 2-0 on the first day of its first annual tournament.
In other tournament games, Ball State (5-7) won two games, defeating Austin Peay (2-9) 3-2 and UAB 6-3 as Ruth Hjelmeland hit a three-run home run in extra innings to lead the Cardinals past the Blazers. UAB (9-13) finished 0-2 on Friday, also losing 6-2 to Auburn as the Tigers pounded out 16 hits, Michelle Martin went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Deni Zeigler added a home run and three RBI.
Alabama A&M (5-8) struck early as Jamie Carruthers walked, advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored on a home run by Shawna Pena. Samford answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first, then took the lead 3-2 with a lead-off home run by Angela Bednark. The Bulldogs added three runs in the second, two on four hits in the bottom of the fourth, one in the fifth and two to end the game in sixth inning.
Mindy Shunnarah went 4-for-4 with three runs scored, Jennifer Graham went 4-for-4 with three RBI and Angela Bednark was 3-for-4 with the game-winning RBI to lead the Bulldogs' record-setting offensive performance.
In the Bulldogs' second game, Janet Middleton hit her second home run of the season for Samford to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Michelle Wright led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI.
A full schedule of games are on tap for Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. with Auburn/Ball State and Austin Peay/Alabama A&M. For a full schedule of games, go to the Samford athletic Web site at www.samfordsports.com.
