Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score - Samford vs. Indiana State
Box Score - Samford vs. Oklahoma State

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Samford University softball team finished day one of the 2008 Troy Cox Invitational with a 1-1 record Friday as the Bulldogs defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 3-1 in the opener, but then lost to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 10-5 at the New Mexico State University Softball Complex.

Samford (4-7) will continue play in the three-day, six-team tournament Saturday against Utah Valley State at 8 p.m. (CST).

In Samford's first game, the Bulldogs used a strong pitching performance from Stephanie Royall to defeat Indiana State (0-1) 3-1.

In the victory, Royall tallied a season-high six strikeouts and only allowed four hits. The Bulldogs' junior hurler didn't allow an earned run and improved to 1-2 on the season.

Samford notched a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and added another score in the sixth frame. Aaren Fisher led the team with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Amanda Barrs was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Seniors Jeslyn Metcalf and Emily Deaux also added hits for the Bulldogs, while sophomore catcher Terry Whitney drove in a run.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fisher started Samford's rally with a leadoff single. She then advanced to second on an Indiana State error and later scored as Barrs blasted a double to left center field. Barrs then moved over to third base on a wild pitch and scored on Terry's sacrifice bunt.

Indiana State trimmed Samford's lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning before the Bulldogs tallied the game's final run in the sixth frame to make the score 3-1. Samford tallied its sixth-inning run with one out as Deaux drove in Barrs from second base on a line-drive double to right field.

Samford's win against Indiana State snapped a five-game losing streak. The meeting was also the Bulldogs' first in school history against the Sycamores.