March 29, 2009
Final Stats
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped the third and final game of this weekend's series with Furman Sunday, 2-0. The Bulldogs are now 10-17 (4-8 SoCon) on the year, while Furman improves to 12-17 (4-5 SoCon).
After winning the first game of the series, 3-2, Samford fell, 7-3, in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday. The Bulldogs hoped to pick up another win on Sunday but Furman had other plans. The Paladins shut out the Bulldogs in the third game.
"I keep telling the players that it's not physical, it's mental," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "Nothing they are doing wrong is physical. They just have to come ready to play. Stephanie (Royall) pitched well today. That's just the adjustment we have to make is just come ready to play.
Stephanie Royall (5-7) pitched her fifth complete game of the year, striking out four batters, walking only one and giving up just two runs on six hits. Katie England let the Bulldogs in hitting on the day (.500), reaching base twice on a hit and a walk. Amy Gonzalez, Kristy Lawrence, Robyn Harmon and Amanda Jordan all were one-for-four on the day.
Lana Mackey (6-9) got the win for the Paladins, her sixth on the year. She struck out seven batters and walked one while giving up five hits. Mackey also led in hitting, along with Jessie Homesley, both going two-for-three on the day. Mackey drove in the Paladins' first run while Meredith Mielke drove in the winning run.
Samford quickly retired three straight Paladins in the first inning while Gonzalez led off with a single in the bottom of the inning. However, Furman would quickly retire three Bulldogs to close out the inning.
It was another quick outing for Furman in the top of the second inning as Samford retired three with a pop-up, strike out and ground out. In the bottom of the inning, Samford led off with a single up the middle by Kristy Lawrence. After Aaren Fisher popped up, Lawrence advanced to second on a wild pitch before Robyn Harmon singled to third base. However, Furman would get the two outs it needed to close out the inning and Samford left two stranded.
After another scoreless inning in the third, the Paladins finally got on the board when Mackey singled through the left side to bring home Stephanie Cushing. With two outs, Mielke singled to bring in the winning run before Samford finally closed out the inning.
Samford was never able to get anything going on the bats, and after three more scoreless innings, Furman walked away with the 2-0 victory.
The Bulldogs will be on the road for the next two weekends on a six-game road swing beginning with Georgia Southern and then UNC Greensboro. The next time Samford will play at home will be April 15 when the Bulldogs host Memphis for a doubleheader.
