March 16, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team scored five runs in the final two innings of play Sunday to earn a thrilling 6-5 win against the Austin Peay Lady Govs at Bulldog Field. With the exciting come-from-behind victory, the Bulldogs won the series 2-1.

"I'm proud of our team and how they were able to make the necessary adjustments at the plate late in the game," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "This was a big win for us and all season long we've been a late-inning, come-from-behind team. Our players stepped up today and they completed something that was pretty awesome."

In the bottom of the seventh frame, Samford (10-13, 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference) rallied for four runs on four-consecutive hits to even the score at 5-5.

The Bulldogs' outburst was ignited by sophomore Katie England's deep one-out home run to center field. England, Samford's starting third baseman from Birmingham, turned in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, and the key roundtripper was her third of the season.

After England trimmed the Austin Peay (4-12, 1-2 OVC) lead to 5-2, Kristy Lawrence, Amanda Barrs and Kylie Harmon all laced consecutive singles to load the bases. On the ensuing play, Amanda Jordan reached on an error by the shortstop and Lawrence scored from third base to cut the Lady Govs' lead to 5-3.

Next up, Samford's Jessica Owens grounded out to third base, but Barrs came in to cross the plate to make the score 5-4. Owens, who went 0-for-4 in the game, had her OVC-leading hitting streak snapped at 12.

With two outs and runners at third and second, the Bulldogs' senior Jeslyn Metcalf sent a slow grounder to shortstop. On the play, Austin Peay's Brittany Williams charged the ball in order to throw out the speedy Metcalf, but sent the throw high to first baseman Ashley Alverson.

Alverson, the Lady Govs' talented freshman from Cleveland, Tenn., skied into the air to catch the ball, but she didn't return to the ground in time to retire Metcalf. In a moment of emphatic controversy, the second-base umpire initially called Metcalf out on the play.

Then finally, after consulting with the home plate umpire, she correctly called Metcalf safe and Harmon scored from third to tie the game at 5-5.

In the eighth inning, Samford's relief pitcher Barrs sent Austin Peay's hitters down in order to bring the Bulldogs back to the plate in the bottom of the frame. Barrs, who came on in relief for Kayla Burris in the first inning, only allowed one earned run on three hits in 7.1 innings.

Samford opened the bottom of the eighth inning with back-to-back singles to center field from Emily Deaux and England. The pair then advanced to third and second, respectively, as Lawrence laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to second base.

Then, with one out, Austin Peay's head coach Jim Perrin signaled to have Barrs intentionally walked to load the bases. On the fourth pitch, the Lady Govs' starting pitcher Ashley Elrod airmailed the ball over the head of catcher Daniella Hooper and Deaux scored Samford's game-winning run from third base.

"I really felt bad for Elrod and how the game ended," said Ketcham. "Early in my career, we lost a game like that and it is absolutely heartbreaking. It's definitely an unfortunate way to lose a ballgame."

Deaux finished with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. She also paced the team with two runs scored. Harmon also tallied a 2-for-3 outing and added a run.

Elrod (3-5) pitched an outstanding game for Austin Peay prior to the seventh inning. In the opening six frames, she only allowed two Samford hits and one run. Barrs picked up the win for the Bulldogs. A natural infielder, she pitched for the first time this season Sunday.

"Amanda did a great job in the circle for us," Ketcham said. "She's only been practicing her pitching for about the last 10 days and she's a fighter. She did some pitching in high school and in her travel ball, and we know that we are going to get her best shot each time she's out there."

Austin Peay was led offensively by Hooper. In the first inning, she put the exclamation point on the Lady Govs' five-run rally with a three-run homer to left field. The roundtripper was her first of the 2008 campaign.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Friday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs continue their OVC schedule at home against the Morehead State Eagles. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday followed by a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Samford's award-winning Bulldog Field.