April 19, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In what Samford head softball coach Beanie Ketcham tabbed as the "biggest doubleheader sweep in school history", the Bulldogs reeled off a pair of thrilling victories against the defending Ohio Valley Conference-champion Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday, 4-1 and 6-5.

With the doubleheader sweep, Samford (18-24, 9-11 OVC) extended its season-high winning streak to four-consecutive games and moved ahead of Tennessee Tech (22-25-1, 6-9 OVC) in the conference standings.

"These wins were huge for us for a number of reasons," said Ketcham. "Obviously, the main reason is that we are trying to battle our way into the OVC Tournament and these wins give us a head-to-head advantage over Tennessee Tech. Our players were outstanding. We had great pitching, defense and hitting out there today."

After Samford's Amanda Barrs (7-5) pitched the Bulldogs to a 4-1 victory in game one, it was senior Emily Deaux who proved to be the heroine in the finale.

With Samford trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Deaux stepped in to bat with runners on the corners and no one out. Tennessee Tech's Maddie Schmissrauter (8-9) was in the circle and fired a 1-2 pitch that Deaux smacked deep over the left center field fence.

Deaux's three-run homer, her fifth of the 2008 season, proved to be the game-winning drive and secured Samford's doubleheader sweep of Tennessee Tech.

"Emily did an outstanding job on her home run," said Ketcham. "There were two strikes when she hit it and she battled well in the entire at-bat. With her being a senior, in one of her last home games, it was really a storybook ending for her. I was really proud of her and I knew that she was due for a big hit."

The Bulldogs finished with several outstanding hitting performances Saturday.

True freshman Aaren Fisher paced the team in the doubleheader with a combined 3-for-5 outing at the plate. Samford's talented native of Henderson, Nev., powered two home runs in the second game and increased her team-high total to seven. She also scored three runs and tallied a pair of RBI.

Sophomores Katie England and Barrs were both 3-for-6 against Tennessee Tech. England tallied two RBI, two runs scored and a double for the Bulldogs, while Barrs drove in a run and crossed the plate.

Samford's Jessica Owens, the team's leading hitter with a .350 batting average, went 3-for-7 in the doubleheader and scored a run. The Bulldogs' speedy leftfielder also made a number of outstanding plays in the field.

"Our players did a great job today and I'm really proud of them," Ketcham said. "It feels good to be on the winning side of a close game. We've been right at the edge so many times this year and we've given up the big hit in the bottom of the seventh or the top of the sixth, so feels really good to get this win."

In game one, Tennessee Tech jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Samford exploded for four runs in two innings to take a decisive 4-1 advantage.

Barrs, the Bulldogs' pitching ace, earned the victory in the circle and tallied three strikeouts in five innings. She only allowed three hits and gave up one earned run. Freshman Kayla Burris came on to pitch the final two innings of the game and earned her second save of the season.

Barrs, who also picked up the victory in game two, withstood a scary moment when she was hit in the knee with a line drive. After walking it off for a couple minutes, she returned to the circle and struck out a pair of Golden Eagles.

"I thought that Barrs was outstanding today, especially after she got hit in the knee with the line drive," said Ketcham. "I was afraid that we were going to lose her, but she's a gutsy player and a very clutch player. She knows how to play under pressure and she loves to be in that spot. I almost think that she performs better when she's challenge."

In game two, Tennessee Tech once again jumped out to an early lead. The Golden Eagles scored at least one run in each of the first four innings and held a 5-1 advantage in the fourth inning.

Senior first baseman Stephanie Fischer paced Tennessee Tech's offense in the nightcap and went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. She also blasted her OVC-leading 16th home run of the season in the top of the first inning. The Golden Eagles' all-conference performer Beth Boden was also 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

Samford's freshman Julie Handley raked a single up the middle in game two, while junior Kylie Harmon registered a clutch two-out single in game one to plate a pair of Bulldog runners.

The Samford University softball team will conclude its three-game OVC series against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Sunday at 1 p.m., at Bulldog Field.

Sunday's game will be Samford's final home contest of the 2008 season and fans are urged to arrive 15 minutes early as the Softball Program recognizes the following Bulldog seniors: Emily Deaux, Tracey Deaux and Jeslyn Metcalf with a special "Senior Day" presentation.

Live Stats - Game Three
2008 Senior Day Handout