May 10, 2008

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - With one out and Samford leading 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Tennessee Tech's Stephanie Fischer hit a game-winning, three-run homer to end the Bulldogs' never-say-die season at the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, 6-5.

Fischer, the nation's leading home run hitter with 27 this season, powered two round-trippers in the game, including the seventh-inning walk-off. She finished the game with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and drove in four runs.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Samford (25-29) led Tennessee Tech (32-29-1) 5-3.

True freshman Margaret Carter (7-9) was in the circle for the Bulldogs and forced lead-off batter Anna Zdroik to ground out weakly to first base for the first out of the inning. The Golden Eagles' Beth Boden then lifted a popup to shallow center field. On the play, Samford's centerfielder Jeslyn Metcalf and shortstop Amanda Jordan were mixed up on who called the ball and it dropped in safely for a base hit.

Tennessee Tech's Amanda Glover then singled through the right side of the infield to bring Fischer to the plate. Glover, the Golden Eagles' sophomore designated player, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

With one out and runners on first and second, Tennessee Tech's Fischer connected on a 3-1 pitch and sent it over the fence in right field to give the Golden Eagles their 6-5 victory. With the win, Tennessee Tech advanced to the championship round of the OVC Tournament for the seventh time in eight years.

"This was definitely a tough way for us to lose the game and to end the season," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "We played our hearts out today and we left everything on the field. I have to give a lot of credit to Tennessee Tech, because they did whatever it took to win the game and Fischer showed why she's the player of the year."

Samford's Metcalf led all hitters with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate Saturday. The Bulldogs' senior outfielder from Dothan, Ala., also scored in the top of the seventh inning to give Samford its 5-3 advantage.

The Bulldogs rattled off eight hits against the Golden Eagles as Jessica Owens, Amanda Barrs, Kylie Harmon, Jordan and Kristy Lawrence all reached base safely.

Lawrence turned in one of the biggest hits of the game for Samford in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Bulldogs' junior first baseman ripped a line drive to left field to give Samford a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Golden Eagles trimmed the Bulldogs' advantage to 4-3 on Glover's home run to left field.

Tennessee Tech's Maddi Schmissrauter (11-11) picked up the win for the Golden Eagles. She pitched the final 2.1 innings of the game and allowed one earned run on two hits. Schmissrauter also tallied a pair of strikeouts.

Samford was two outs from being only the second sixth-seeded team to advance to the championship round of the 2008 OVC Tournament since 1998 on Saturday.

The Bulldogs finished the season with a 25-29 overall record and as the sixth-place team in the conference. In its final year as a member of the OVC, Samford advanced to the semifinal round of the conference tournament for the first time in school history.

In 2009, Samford will move to the Southern Conference and the future looks bright for the Bulldogs. Samford will return eight starters from this year's team and will also add a talented crop of freshmen to the roster.

"I'm so grateful for all that our seniors have done for our program over the last four years," Ketcham said. "They've all worked extremely hard and these three talented seniors (Metcalf, Emily Deaux and Tracey Deaux) have laid the groundwork for what I think will be a championship program in the near future."