April 25, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team split its doubleheader with Elon Saturday as it lost the first game by a score of 2-1 but bounced back with a 6-5 win in the second game. Samford (17-25, 9-14 SoCon) and Elon (14-27, 5-12 SoCon) will close out the conference season Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
Freshman pitcher Robyn Harmon (2-1) scored Samford's only run in the first game of the day with her first career home run. She then lifted the Bulldogs over the Phoenix in the second game with her two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to win the game while also grabbing her second win of the season in the pitcher's circle.
Robyn Harmon and Kylie Harmon had Samford's only two hits of the first game, each going 1-for-3 at the plate. Amanda Barrs (3-13) pitched five innings and took the loss for the Bulldogs after giving up two runs on five hits and walking four batters. Kayla Burris came in for an inning of relief, recording two strikeouts and giving up one hit before Stephanie Royall pitched the final inning and recorded one strikeout.
Jaimie Rao and Hannah Shelton led the Phoenix in the first game, each going 1-for-2. Melanie Helterbran had both of Elon's RBI while going 1-for 3 at the plate. Erin O'Shea (5-9) pitched five innings and gave up one run on two hits while striking out five batters. Helterbran pitched the final two innings, recording two strikeouts and earning the save for the Phoenix.
Samford plated its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game. Robyn Harmon blasted a shot over the left field fence to record her first career home run and put the Bulldogs on the board. However, Elon answered back in the top of the sixth when Danielle Lafferty and Ashlee Crewe scored on a hit by Helterbran to left field.
Katie England and Kylie Harmon led the Bulldogs in the second game, each going 2-for-3 while England logged one RBI. Barrs, Jessica Owens, Amy Gonzalez and Amanda Jordan were all 1-for-3 at the plate with Barrs, Gonzalez and Jordan having one RBI each. Robyn Harmon was 1-for-4 but was the hero of the game with a two-run homer to win.
Elon jumped out to an early lead, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out and runners on the corners, Kaitlyn Piazzolla singled to left field to score Jacqueline Gonzalez. Rao then stepped up to bat and singled to load the bases before Helterbran singled to bring in Piazzolla and Ashlee Crewe.
Samford finally got on the board and cut the Phoenix lead to one in the bottom of the second inning. With one on and two outs, Gonzalez doubled to center field to score Owens before Jordan singled up the middle to bring in Gonzalez.
The Bulldogs took a one-point lead after shutting out Elon in the top of the third and scoring two in the bottom of the inning. Kylie Harmon led off and reached base on an error by Elon's third baseman Patti Weber. Robyn Harmon stepped up to the plate and Kylie stole second on the first pitch, but Robyn flied out to left field to put one out on the board. Lawrence then grounded out before Barrs doubled to bring Kylie Harmon home. England followed up with a double of her own to bring in Barrs and the Bulldogs went up, 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Elon responded and took the lead back. Weber led off with a walk before Crewe reached base on a hit batsman. Piazzolla singled to load the bases before Helterbran batted in Weber to tie the game. Pam DelPizzo reached on a fielder's choice and Crewe scored on an error by Samford's catcher Jordan to take a 5-4 lead.
Robyn Harmon was brought in to relieve Royall and the freshman pitcher shut out the Phoenix in the final two innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Fisher led off and grounded out to third base before Kylie Harmon reached on a hit batsman. Robyn Harmon then stepped up to the plate and hit her second career home run, and her second of the day, to bring in the tying and winning runs.
Samford and Elon will close out regular-season conference play Sunday with the final game of the series at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will honor their three seniors - Kylie Harmon, Kristy Lawrence and Jessica Owens - prior to first pitch.
Fans can follow all the action via live stats and a full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com upon the completion of the game.
