Feb. 12, 2008

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - The Samford University softball team played its fifth-consecutive game away from home Tuesday and dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision against the Troy Trojans at the Trojan Softball Complex. The loss snapped the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak.

"This was a tough loss for us, but I'm proud of how we came back and didn't give up," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "We started off slow in the game and didn't really play our best, but there were definitely some positives that we can take from this game. We hit the ball well and I thought that our pitchers did a pretty good job."

Samford (3-2) out-hit Troy (2-3) 7-6 and didn't commit an error in Tuesday's game. The Bulldogs did walk five batters in six innings.

Troy jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first inning. Then, in the third inning, the Trojans scored two more runs to extend their lead to 4-0.

"We just couldn't hit the ball to start the game and Troy was able to make some things happen," Ketcham said. "We're still not playing as sharp as we could and we're still making the same mistakes that we make in practice. I keep telling the team that they will play as they practice and hopefully we'll get it turned around before this weekend."

On Friday, Samford will square off against Troy again, this time at home in the 2008 Samford Bulldogs Bash. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play four games in three days this weekend and will welcome Louisville, North Florida and Troy to Birmingham for the tournament.

Despite trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Samford tallied its first run of the game in the top of the fourth frame and then rallied for two more scores in the fifth.

The Bulldogs were led offensively by freshman Amanda Jordan's 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Samford's talented 6-foot shortstop finished the game with a double, a single and a run scored. Junior Kylie Harmon went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run, while Jeslyn Metcalf, Aaren Fisher, Amanda Barrs and Emily Deaux all added hits for the Bulldogs.

With the win, Troy improved to 1-0 at home this season. The Trojans' Jessica Lyle led the way for her team with a 2-for-2 offensive outing. Troy's designated player also walked and drove in three runs.

The Trojans' Ashlyn Williams (1-1) earned the win in the circle, while the Bulldogs' Margaret Carter (1-1) was handed the loss.

In the top of the fourth inning, Samford trimmed Troy's lead to 4-1 as Fisher started a two-out rally with a deep double to right field. Barrs, the Bulldogs' next batter, then drove in Fisher with a screaming line drive up the middle.

"I thought that we did a pretty good job of putting the bat on the ball," said Ketcham. "We put together a couple of good innings late in the game, but we just need to do a better job of being consistent. There's still a lot of softball to be played this year and we just need to continue to improve."

Samford cut Troy's lead to 4-3 in the top of the fifth inning.

Jordan doubled and scored for the first run of the frame while Harmon later crossed the plate on a two-out error by the Trojans. Prior to scoring the Bulldogs' third run of the game, Harmon reached second base by doubling to deep right field.

After cutting Troy's lead to 4-3, Samford made critical mistakes in both the sixth and seventh innings to end up short in the game. In each frame, the Bulldogs' leadoff batter reached base safely, but the next hitter popped out trying to sacrifice the runner to second. In each case, it stifled Samford's rally.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Friday at 3:30 p.m., as the Bulldogs square off against the Louisville Cardinals in the opening day of the 2008 Samford Bulldog Bash. At 5:45 p.m., Friday, the Bulldogs will once against meet Troy in the nightcap of the four-team competition.