March 2, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team suffered its worst defeat of the 2008 season Sunday as the Bulldogs fell prey to an 8-0 five-inning explosion from the Georgia Southern Eagles on the final day of the 2008 Magic City Classic held at Spain Park High School.

With the loss, Samford (8-11) finished the three-day tournament with a 2-3 record. The Bulldogs' victories came against Birmingham-Southern 7-1 on Friday and Grambling State 6-0 on Saturday.

With the win, Georgia Southern (14-10) completed its undefeated weekend and earned the championship title of the 2008 Magic City Classic. The Eagles turned in a perfect 5-0 record in the seven-team event.

Against Samford on Sunday, Georgia Southern's starting pitcher Melissa Laliberte (6-2) hurled a complete-game, three-hit shutout. The Eagles' senior from Ontario, Canada, earned the victory in the circle and finished with three strikeouts. On the weekend, Laliberte compiled a 3-0 record.

Georgia Southern scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning, and then tacked on a trio of runs in both the third and fourth frames.

The Eagles' Robyne Siliga led her team with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. Georgia Southern rattled off 10 hits against Samford in the 8-0 victory.

The Bulldogs' Kylie Harmon tallied two of the team's three hits, while junior leftfielder Jessica Owens added the third base hit of the game.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., as the Bulldogs return home to host the Auburn Tigers at Bulldog Field.