April 30, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
MACON, Ga. ---- The Samford softball team split its last regular-season doubleheader Thursday with Mercer as the Bulldogs shutout the Bears, 4-0, in the first game before falling in the second game, 5-1. Despite Mercer's two wins in the series with Samford, the Bulldogs still hold a 28-21 lead in the all-time series with the Bears.
While Amanda Barrs and Kayla Burris combined for a seven-inning shutout of Mercer, the Bulldogs put up four runs in the top of the third inning to win the first game, 4-0.
Robyn Harmon led Samford (19-27, 10-14 SoCon), going 3-for-3 at the plate with one run and one RBI. Kylie Harmon was 3-for-4 with one run while Katie England went 2-for-4 with one run. Barrs was 1-for-3 at the plate, with her one hit being a three-run home run to put the Bulldogs ahead, 4-0.
Barrs (4-13) also pitched six full innings, earning the win while striking out five batters and giving up just five hits. Burris pitched the last inning for the Bulldogs while giving up just one hit. Neither one of the Bulldog pitchers walked a batter in game one.
Sara Stukes led Mercer (37-17, 14-6 A-Sun), going 2-for-3 at the plate while Holly Oglesbee went 2-for-4. Alison Jones and Emi Sherrill went 1-for-4 and 1-for-3, respectively.
Lacey Richardson (14-8) took the loss for the Bears after giving up four earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings and walking two batters while striking out one. Jessie Holmes came on in relief and pitched the remainder of the game, striking out six batters and giving up just five hits.
Samford plated its first run in the top of the third when Robyn Harmon singled to drive home Kylie Harmon who was on second base. Katie England then singled to get to first base and advance Robyn Harmon to third before Amanda Barrs came to the plate and blasted a three-run homer - her second home run of the season - to bring England and Robyn Harmon home and put the Bulldogs up, 4-0.
In the second game, the two teams plated four scoreless innings before Samford got on the board and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Mercer responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of its own and tied the game before putting four runs up in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-1 lead.
Amanda Jordan led the Bulldogs in game two, going 2-for-2 and scoring Samford's only run of the game with her first career home run. Amy Gonzalez was 2-for-3 while Kylie Harmon was 1-for-3.
Robyn Harmon (4-2) took the loss in game two, giving up three earned runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. She struck out three batters and walked two. Burris pitched the final two-thirds of the sixth inning, giving up two runs on two hits.
Oglesbee and Jena Ellis were 1-for-2 at the plate for Mercer in game two while Kristin Marko led the Bears, going 2-for-3. Stukes, Cassy Neilson and Amanda Santa Maria all went 1-for-3 at the plate while Neilson had four of the Bears' five RBI.
Jordan scored Samford's only run in the top of the fifth inning with her home run before Mercer tied the game as Oglesbee doubled to bring home Santa Maria with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. After holding the Bulldogs runless in the top of the sixth, the Bears added four more in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Neilson stepped up and hit a grand slam over the center field wall to put the Bears up, 5-1.
Samford will return home Saturday to play its final regular-season game of the season against UAB. The contest is a makeup game as the two teams had to cancel an earlier meeting this year because of inclement weather. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Bulldog Field. Fans can follow the action via live stats on www.samfordsports.com, and a full recap and results will be available upon the completion of the game.
