March 5, 2004

BSC Box Score

UAB Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team dropped a pair of one-run games on Friday falling to Birmingham-Southern 5-4 and to UAB 2-1 on the first day of the Magic City Classic at George Ward Park.

Samford (4-14) held a 1-0 lead against UAB (6-9) heading to the bottom of the seventh innings. Holly Krzan led off with a single to second base as Kelly Smith made a diving effort to stop the ball but her throw was just late to first base. Senior pitcher Erin Landsburg hit Amanda Ellis putting runners on first and second with no one out. A sacrifice bunt by Kris Lara moved the runner to second and third. Landsburg then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed both runs to score and end the game.

The final inning overshadowed what was otherwise an outstanding defensive game for the Bulldogs. Samford turned three double-plays including one in the sixth when right-fielder Abi Casillo threw pinch-runner Allison Davis out at third base trying to tag-up on a fly ball. Trisha Holman also made a circus catch in centerfield in the fourth inning.

The Bulldogs scored their only run in the fifth inning as Liz Pearse advanced to second on a throwing error by the UAB second basemen. She moved over to third on a passed ball and scored on a double steal with Kayla Watkins who had reached on a fielder's choice. In the opening game, Samford scored a run to pull to within one runin the seventh inning and had the tying run on third base when Kelly Smith tried to check her swing and grounded out to first base to end the game.

BSC (6-9) wasted second and third and less than two rallies in each of the first two innings before finally breaking through in the top of the third inning. Ami Rodgers had a bases loaded single that drove across the first two runs of the game. Dawn Tredwell followed with a single that scored the third run of the inning and one-out later, Kerri Owens sacrifice fly scored Rodgers to put the Panthers up 4-0.

Samford rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Bridgett Smith got the inning going with a one-out single and Watkins reached on an error by the BSC shortstop to put runners on at first and second. Erin Hall singled to load the bases still with only one out. Landsburg hit a come-backer to pitcher who threw home for an out but the throw to first got past the first basemen allowing Watkins to score Samford's first run. Kelly Smith followed with a two-RBI double to score Hall and Landsburg and make the score 4-3.

In the sixth, Leslie Roberts reached on an error and should have been caught stealing but the ball was dropped applying the tag. The Panthers took advantage of the miscues as Roberts scored after another Samford error.

Samford rallied again in its final at bat as Bridgett Smith reached on a fielder's choice moved to second on a single by Watkins, and over to third on another fielder's choice. She would score on a passed ball that moved Hall over to third but Kristina Villavicenci came on to record the final out for her first save of the season.

Rodgers picked up the win for BSC moving to 2-1. She threw five innings giving up three runs and six hits. Susanna Meyer took the loss for the Bulldogs falling to 3-4 on the season.

In the second game, Erica Mascarenas picked up the win for UAB giving up just two hits and striking out nine. She did allow the one unearned run and walked five Bulldogs. Landsburg was saddled with the loss falling to 0-5 despite allowing just two runs on four hits and fanning three Blazers.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday for day two of the Classic. Samford plays BSC at 1 p.m. and UAB at 5 p.m..