March 7, 2009

Final Stats

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BOONE, N.C. ---- The Samford softball team dropped two games Saturday to Appalachian State in its first two Southern Conference games of the season. The Bulldogs fell 9-2 in the first game and 11-2 in the second game. Samford is now 5-10 on the season and 0-2 in Southern Conference play.

In the first game, Appalachian State (5-8, 1-0 SoCon) opened up the game by walking Jessica Owens but soon knocked off three outs in a row. The Mountaineers then put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, Appalachian State had a six-run third inning before Kayla Burris came in to relieve and held the mountaineers scoreless for the rest of the game.

In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs got on the board due to some mistakes made by the Mountaineers. Aaren Fisher led the inning off and reached first base on an error by the ASU shortstop before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Kristy Lawrence then singled to advance Fisher to third and then Fisher would score on an error by the catcher. Amanda Barrs then doubled down the left field line to bring in Lawrence for the second Bulldog run.

Barrs began the game in the circle but after facing 15 batters and giving up five runs on seven hits in two innings, Fisher came in to take over. She lasted only two-thirds of an inning before Burris came on in relief. Burris closed out the game, pitching three and one-third inning. She faced 13 batters, striking out seven and walking only two. She gave up only one hit.

In game two, Appalachian State struck the first blow again. The posted two runs in the bottom of the first and then tacked on six more in the third and three in the fourth.

With the Mountaineers having an 11-run lead, the Bulldogs tried to close the game in the top of the fifth inning. Rachael Reeves led off for Samford but lined out to center field. Amy Gonzalez was up next and she rattled off a double to get the Bulldogs in the game. Jessica Owens flied out but then Fisher came to bat and blasted a homerun, her third of the season, to bring in two runs. However, it was not enough as Appalachian State got its third out when Barrs lined out to the shortstop.

Stephanie Royall pitched three and two-thirds innings before Burris came in to relieve. Royall faced 27 batters, giving up 11 runs on 10 hits, six earned. She walked six and struck out three.

Samford and Appalachian State will wrap up the weekend on Sunday with an 11 a.m. start at the ASU Softball Stadium. A full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com upon completion of the game.