Feb. 8, 2009
Final Stats
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ---- The Samford University softball team went 0-2 on the final day of the Southern Miss Invitational as they fell to Western Kentucky, 4-3, and Arkansas, 6-2, on Sunday. The Bulldogs put together a two-run fifth inning in each game to help get them back in the game but the Hilltoppers' defense and the Lady Razorbacks' offense were too much for Samford to overcome. The losses are the first for the Bulldogs on the season.
Against Western Kentucky Sunday morning, Samford (3-2) scored one run in the second inning to tie the game at one run a piece before Western Kentucky took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs brought in two runs, though, in the bottom of the fifth inning when Amanda Barrs doubled to right center field to bring in Katie England and Jessica Owens, both of whom were put in position by a WKU fielding error.
The Bulldogs saw extra innings for the second day in a row when Western Kentucky scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the score at three and then kept Samford from scoring in the bottom of that inning to send it to an eighth inning. The Hilltoppers did that once more to take a 4-3 lead and walk away with the victory.
Arkansas dominated the first three innings of the afternoon match-up with the Bulldogs. The Lady Razorbacks put one run on the board in the first and two in the second and third before Samford finally scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Lady Razorbacks were plagued with errors in the fifth inning which allowed Samford to bring in two runs. Owens led off in the inning and walked before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Amy Gonzalez struck out swinging but advanced to first base on a passed ball then got to second on an error by the catcher. Meanwhile, Owens advanced to third to set up a potential scoring opportunity.
Katie England was up next and reached base on a fielder's choice before advancing to second on the throw. That brought in Owens while Gonzalez went to third. Kristy Lawrence walked and with runners on first and third, Kylie Harmon moved the runners around on a fielder's choice and Gonzalez came home to score Samford's second run. However, that would be it for the Bulldogs.
Over the weekend, Owens led the Bulldogs in hitting with a .636 batting average. She went seven of eleven with five runs and one RBI. England rattled off the team's first two homeruns on Saturday, one against Central Arkansas and one against Southern Miss. She batted in six runs on the weekend and slugged an average of .571.
In the circle, Kayla Burris walked away with one win and one loss on the weekend. She pitched four complete innings, striking out six batters and giving up only one hit and one run. Stephanie Royall was the winning pitcher Saturday night against Southern Miss. Royall pitched 12 and one-third innings over the weekend posting a 2.19 ERA and striking out five batters and walking three. She gave up 13 hits and four runs, three earned.
Samford is back in action Wednesday on the road when they take on in-state rival and former conference rival Jacksonville State. First pitch is at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs will then turn around and host its annual Bulldog Bash which begins Friday and will conclude on Sunday.
