Feb. 16, 2003

Box Score

Oxford, Miss. - OXFORD, MISS. - The Samford softball team fell to Mississippi State, 15-4, in the bitter cold at the Rebel/Easton Invitational in Oxford, Miss.

Samford moves to 1-1 on the season, while Mississippi State improves to 6-5.

Mississippi State pitcher Melissa Massey retired the Samford Bulldog side in the first inning before her team quickly gave her run support in the bottom of the first. Iyhia McMichael tripled to centerfield to send home two runs for State. She later scored the third run for the Bulldogs when Jennifer Waterman singled to left field.

Junior Abi Casillo put Samford on the board in the top of the second with a one out home run to left field, but Mississippi State plated two more runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 5-1.

The top of the third inning seemed to pick up for the Bulldogs when Sarah Godfrey led off the inning with a single. Erin Landsburg followed with a single, and Trisha Holman laid down a bunt single to load the bases with one out. Senior captain Michelle Wright then doubled to right field to plate Godfrey and Landsburg and pull the Bulldogs within two runs.

However, Mississippi State had a six run third highlighted by a grand slam by McMichael to make the score 11-3. The Mississippi State Bulldogs plated four more runs in the bottom of the fourth and bring the score to 15-3.

Samford managed to add one more run to their total in the fifth inning when the State pitcher walked Erin Hall with the bases loaded.

Erin Landsburg got the start for Samford and took the loss to bring her record to1-1. She gave up seven hits, four earned runs, struck out three and walked one. Freshman Emilee Lewis relieved her in the third and gave up six hits, eight runs and walked four. Senior Amber Lewis finished the game for the Bulldogs giving up three hits, two runs and walking one.

Samford had six hits on the day highlighted by Casillo's first home run of the season and the sixth of her career. Wright inched closer to the school record for doubles with her first of the season and 28th of her career.

The Bulldogs return to action on Feb. 22 at Middle Tennessee.