March 17, 2007

Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Samford University softball team opened its 2007 Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a doubleheader split Saturday as the Bulldogs went 1-1 against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks on a cold and snowy day at the SE Softball Complex.

Samford (14-10, 1-1 OVC) lost the opening game, 3-1, but broke out for a decisive 10-2 victory over the Redhawks in the second contest.

Southeast Missouri (5-8, 1-1 OVC) used a pair of home runs from junior Michelle Summers to win the first game. The Redhawks' third baseman accounted for all three of her team's runs. With the victory, Southeast Missouri snapped its three-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.

Summers went 2-for-3 at the plate and finished with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Elaine Fisher (3-6) earned the victory in the circle.

Samford's freshman first baseman Amanda Barrs turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. She led the Bulldogs in hitting in the first game and currently leads the team in overall hitting this season with a .333 batting average.

Fellow-freshman Brittany Simao scored Samford's lone run of the opening game in the top of the sixth inning.

Senior Shelley Stanley, junior Jeslyn Metcalf and sophomore Rachael Reeves also registered hits in Saturday's first game. Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Royall (8-5) was saddled with the loss.

In game two of the doubleheader, Samford exploded for 10 runs on 10 hits and earned a 10-2 victory. Senior pitcher Susanna Meyer (4-4) tallied the victory in the circle and finished with four strikeouts. She only allowed two earned runs in the game.

Southeast Missouri jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring runs in the first and second innings. Catcher Alex Ramirez paced the team with a 2-of-3 performance at the plate.

Samford trailed 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning when senior Jenna Dempski blasted a deep three-run homer to left field. The home run was her third of the 2007 campaign. She went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a runs scored.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning as Barrs singled up the middle and later scored on Kylie Harmon's hit to right field. Barrs went 2-for-4 in the game and crossed the plate twice, while Harmon turned in a 1-for-3 performance and drove in a pair of runs.

In the top of the seventh inning, Samford powered its way for six more runs and increased its lead to 10-2.

Junior Emily Deaux blasted her fourth home run of the season in the frame as she blasted a high grand slam to left center field. Deaux went 1-for-3 at the plate and knocked in four runs. The Bulldogs tallied six hits in the inning and had seven players reach base safely.

Senior Liz Pearse made a number of quality defensive stops in the field and went 2-for-4 at the plate. The Bulldogs' shortstop from Cary, N.C., also scored two runs in the game.

Stanley went 2-for-3 with a pair or runs scored and an RBI, while Tracey Deaux was 1-for 2 with a run scored.

The Samford University softball team will square off against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks in the rubber game of the series on Sunday at noon at the SE Softball Complex.