Feb. 28, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In front of a school-record crowd of 1,051 at Bulldog Field, the Samford University softball team rallied late, but finally dropped an 8-1 decision against the No. 3-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

Samford (7-5) pounded out four hits against one of the nation's elite pitching staffs, including a deep home run to center field from senior Shelley Stanley. The Bulldogs trailed 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning before Alabama (17-0) tacked on a pair of scores in the seventh frame.

"One of our goals for the game was to be in it for seven innings and to be competitive," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "I think for the most part we were solid defensively, but we gave up a couple of key runs with our miscues. I was pleased with how Stephanie (Royall) pitched and without a couple of mistakes the outcome could have been much different."

Samford's Stephanie Royall (5-3) hurled her team-leading seventh complete game of the 2007 campaign. She finished the contest with six strikeouts and only walked two batters.

Alabama's starting pitcher Blair Potter (3-0) tallied her third complete game of the season and only gave up the Bulldogs' lone run on Stanley's homer. The Crimson Tide's left-hander from Columbus, Ga., struck out seven and allowed four hits.

In the top of the first inning, Alabama jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on runs scored by Brittany Rogers and Mandy Burford.

The Crimson Tide had its first five players of the game reach base, four of which registered hits. Burford, Alabama's native of Anniston, Ala., went 1-for-2 in the game and scored a pair of runs.

"I thought that once Stephanie (Royall) settled down after the first inning, she really fought hard for the rest of the game," Ketcham said. "I was a little bit disappointed on the offensive end tonight. I thought that we would be able to hit the ball better, but overall I'm pleased with how we played out there."

The Crimson Tide increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Samford mounted an offensive rally of its own.

Sophomore Jessica Owens led off the bottom half of the frame with an infield single and later advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Stanley then drew a one-out walk and freshman Amanda Barrs reached on a fielder's choice. Senior Jenna Dempski followed with a single up the middle to move Stanley over to third and Barrs to second.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Alabama's Potter forced the Bulldogs' Emily Deaux to pop up to left field for the third out.

The Crimson Tide scored runs in each of the final four innings of the game to make the final score 8-1.

Samford's Stanley, the school's all-time home run leader, increased her Samford record to 28 with a bomb in the sixth inning. The round-tripper was her team-leading third of the 2007 campaign.

Stanley finished the game 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI, while Owens paced the team with a 2-for-3 performance and Dempski went 1-for-3.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Friday as the Bulldogs begin play in the 2007 Magic City Classic at 6 p.m., against the UAB Blazers.

The three-day competition will be held at UAB's George Ward Park and will also feature Birmingham-Southern and Ohio State. Following Samford's first game against UAB on Friday, the Bulldogs will square off against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers at 8 p.m.