Feb. 7, 2009
Final Stats
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ---- The Samford University softball team picked up two wins Saturday on day two of the Southern Miss Invitational. The Bulldogs rallied in nine innings to overtake Central Arkansas, 6-5, and scored seven runs in the sixth inning of their second game to defeat Southern Miss, 8-3.
In the first game, Central Arkansas (0-2) struck the first blow as an error at third base brought in the first Central Arkansas run. However, Samford (3-0) answered back in the bottom of the inning as Katie England hit a homerun to left center field to bring in Jessica Owens and put the Bulldogs up, 2-1.
Central Arkansas tied the score in the top of the second inning as Samford would go without a run in the bottom of the inning. The Bears scored another run in the top of the third to make the score, 3-2, but the Bulldogs would score two more runs to take a 4-3 lead. With the bases loaded, Amanda Barrs singled to left field which brought Owens and Aaren Fisher home.
With a tied score and after a scoreless fifth, sixth and seventh innings both teams would score one run each in the eighth inning. And in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rachel Reeves bunted to bring in Kristy Lawrence for the winning run.
Against Southern Miss, the first three innings would result in no runs for each team. In the top of the fourth Barrs singled up the middle before Kylie Harmon singles to the shortstop. Barrs advanced to third on a throwing error and Harmon stole second which set up Lawrence to hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Barrs.
Southern Miss (1-2) took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after a double brought in two runs. However, the sixth inning was owned by Samford as the Bulldogs scored seven runs to take an 8-2 lead. Two errors helped set up two bases-loaded situations, but England rattled off her second homer of the day to bring in three runs to give Samford the six run advantage. The Bears would score one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but Samford would walk away with the win and move to 3-0 on the season.
Fisher started off the first game in the pitcher's circle for the Bulldogs and pitched four full innings giving up seven hits and four runs. Stephanie Royall took over in the fifth inning and pitched three innings with two strikeouts and giving up only two hits. However, it was Kayla Burris who walked away with her second-straight win in the circle, pitching the final two innings, giving up only one hit and one run and getting two strikeouts.
Barrs started in the circle against the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. She pitched four and one-third innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs. Royall took over in the top of the fifth, facing 10 batters, striking out one and giving up only one run.
Barrs was two of three at the plate against Central Arkansas while Owens was three of four against USM.
Samford continues play Sunday in the Southern Miss Invitational with a morning double-header. The Bulldogs will face Western Kentucky at 10 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. meeting with Arkansas. Live stats are available at www.southernmiss.com and a full recap and results will be available at www.samfordsports.com at the conclusion of the double-header.
