March 15, 2009
Game One Final Stats
Game Two Final Stats
Game Three Final Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team grabbed its first two wins in Southern Conference play Sunday in the better half of a tripleheader at Bulldog Field. The Bulldogs took the first two games before falling in the third after the Cougars rallied late in the game to win it.
Because of rain on Saturday, Samford (8-13, 2-4 SoCon) and Charleston (8-14, 3-3) had to suspend play in the first game after only two innings of play. The pair picked back up where they left off at noon on Sunday, finished game one and played two more after that.
Samford put up a seven-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to win the first game, 8-4. The Bulldogs then led the entire second game and held the Cougars off after they put two runs on the board in the top of the seventh. In the third game, Samford held a 4-0 lead until the top of the sixth when Charleston brought in four runs to tie the game. The game then went into extra innings and the Cougars put up two more in the top of the eighth before holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
The Bulldogs will be back in action next weekend as they take to the road to take on Chattanooga, March 21-22.
Samford 8, College of Charleston 4
When play was suspended on Saturday, Charleston led, 1-0 in the top of the third with two outs and runners on second and third. When play resumed on Sunday, the Cougars batted in those two to take a 3-0 lead but Samford answered back in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homerun by Kristy Lawrence.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Charleston led off with a home run by Kristi Woodall to make it a 4-1 ballgame. Kayla Burris then replaced Stephanie Royall on the mound and the Bulldogs recorded three straight outs.
In the bottom of the inning, Samford rallied back to put seven runs on the board to take the game, 8-4. Katie England led off with a homerun while Charleston hit the next two batters - Amanda Barrs and Kristy Lawrence - to place them on base. With runners at first and second, Amanda Jordan rattled of a big double to right field to bring Barrs and Lawrence home.
After a pitching change, Whitney Terry bunted to reach first and stole second while Jordan advanced to third base. Rachael Reeves then reached first on a fielder's choice which brought Jordan in for Samford's fourth RBI of the inning. Amy Gonzalez then singled and advanced to second on the throw, bringing Terry in to make it a 6-4 game before Jessica Owens singled to bring in Reeves. Aaren Fisher then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring Gonzalez in for the winning run.
Burris got her second win of the season, striking out three and walking none in two innings. Royall pitched five innings, struck out four, walked three and gave up three earned runs on seven hits. Terri Mesko took the loss for the Cougars giving up five earned runs on three hits. She struck out three and walked three in five innings of play. Laura Jeroszko finished out the game for the Cougars, pitching one complete inning and giving up three runs on three hits.
Six Bulldogs chalked up one RBI each while Jordan tallied two of her own. Gonzalez had two stolen bases while Terry had one. Lawrence and Terry led in putouts with eight and seven respectively.
Samford 4, College of Charleston 3
Samford opened the second game with a three-up three-down top of the first inning. The Bulldogs then put two runs on the board in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-0 lead. Owens led off with a single to the pitcher and advanced to second when Fisher grounded out to the pitcher. England and Barrs were then walked, which loaded the bases. Lawrence came to the plate and singled to left field to bring in Owens. With the bases still loaded, Terry walked and England scored.
After a scoreless second inning, Samford retired three straight in the top of the third before putting one run up in the bottom of the inning. Lawrence got on base with a single to center field and advanced to second on the throw. Jordan then doubled and moved Lawrence to third and Charleston loaded the bases once more by walking Terry. Harmon singled to right field and brought in Lawrence.
Charleston answered back with a run in the top of the fourth as Shannon Howard singled to bring in Tiffany Harmon. The Bulldog made it a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Owens singled with runners on first and third to bring in Jordan.
The Cougars tried to spark a rally in the top of the seventh, putting two on the board but fell just short as the Bulldogs took game two, 4-3.
Barrs got the win for the Bulldogs, pitching six complete innings and striking out four. She allowed no walks and gave up only three earned runs on six hits. Burris earned the save for the game, coming in to relieve in the seventh inning. She struck out one batter and only gave up two hits. Howard took the loss for the Cougars, giving up four earned runs on ten hits. She walked four batters and struck out seven.
College of Charleston 6, Samford 4
Samford got on the board first in the third game when England drove in Owens with a double to left center. The Bulldogs and Cougars would play three and a half scoreless innings with only three hits between them but Samford would take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Bulldogs put runners on second and third with one out before England doubled to right center to bring in Fisher and Owens to make it a 3-0 ballgame. England then stole third while Barrs was at the plate before Barrs struck out swinging. Lawrence then singled to left field to bring in England and the Bulldogs had a 4-0 lead after five innings.
Charleston answered back with four of its own in the top of the sixth to tie the game at four. Christal Kotchman led off with a walk before Harmon doubled to center field. Pesature loaded the bases with a single and then Kristie Shifflett hit a grand slam homerun to bring in all four runs.
Samford worked a three-up three-down top of the seventh before Charleston retired the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning with only one hit. The Cougars made their move in the top of the eighth, though, making it a 6-4 game with two runs. Shifflett singled to get on base and Howard hit a home run to drive in the two runs. The Cougars grabbed game three, 6-4.
Alexa Datko earned the win for the Cougars. She pitched a full eight innings, striking out three batters and walking only one. She had four earned runs on nine hits, two of those being doubles.
Royall pitched seven and one-third innings, striking out three and walking two batters. She gave up four earned runs on five hits before Burrs came on in relief. Burris took the loss after striking out one batter and giving up the two winning runs on two hits.
England led the Bulldogs in RBI in the third game while Lawrence had Samford's fourth and led in putouts with 11.
