Feb. 20, 2009
Game One Final Stats
Game Two Final Stats
EL PASO, Tex. ---- The Samford softball team split its first two games in day two of the UTEP Invitational Friday evening as it defeated Northern Colorado, 3-2, before falling to New Mexico State, 8-0.
A seventh inning rally finally put the Bulldogs (4-3) on top of the Northern Colorado Bears (3-7) for the first time since the first inning, and the Bulldogs were able to retire three batters quickly to end the game and take the 3-2 win.
Amy Gonzalez was the first Samford batter to get on base as Northern Colorado pitcher Hillary Van Otterloo walked her. Gonzalez then stole second base to get into scoring position. Katie England stepped up to bat and rattled off a double to bring Gonzalez home and give Samford its first run of the game.
The Bears put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning as Melisa Ryba walked and then stole second. Van Otterloo then walked and advanced to second a sac bunt which put runners in scoring position. Ryba then scored on a passed ball while Van Otterloo went to third before scoring on another passed ball. The Bears now had the one run advantage with a 2-1 score on the board.
The score remained the same until the top of the seventh when Whitney Terry tripled to right center field to bring home Kristy Lawrence, who got to first base on an error by the Northern Colorado first baseman. Rachael Reeves then singled to center field and Terry scored to give Samford the 3-2 lead.
Samford's junior pitcher Stephanie Royall threw a full seven innings, striking out four batters and giving up only two runs on five hits. Lawrence, Terry and Amanda Barrs all were 2-of-3 at the plate while Lawrence had 13 putouts at first base.
Next, Samford faced New Mexico State (12-3). The Aggies shutout the Bulldogs in five innings, scoring in each of the last four innings. NMSU posted one run in the second and fourth innings and three in the third and fifth. Aaren Barrs started at the circle for the Bulldogs but after eight runs on ten hits, Fisher was called in to relieve in the fifth. With one out, Fisher gave up two hits and Burris was called to the circle. New Mexico State's Kandis Jones grounded into a double play which finally ended the inning.
The Bulldogs will play once Saturday as they face Cal State Northridge at 10 a.m. CT. Samford will then wrap up play in the tournament on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. CT against San Jose before taking on UTEP. Live stats are available for each game through links at www.samfordsports.com or www.utepathletics.com.
