April 8, 2009
Box Score
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its midweek match-up with No. 4-ranked Alabama Wednesday night. The Bulldogs put one up in the first inning but the Crimson Tide tacked on 11 straight to take the win in the five-inning evening game.
"I think overall, despite the loss, we played well tonight," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "One way I can tell that this program is going in the right direction is that, over the years when we've come here to play, we've been more and more composed each time."
Samford (11-20, 5-10 SoCon) struck the first blow in the first inning as sophomore Aaren Fisher homered to left center with one out to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead to start the game. Kristy Lawrence then singled to right field and advanced to third on an error by Alabama right fielder Jazlyn Lunceford. However, the Crimson Tide retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Alabama (32-6) knocked off back-to-back singles before Samford pitcher Amanda Barrs struck out Lunceford looking. Tide first baseman Cassie Reilly-Bocca then stepped up and rattled off a double to bring in the two runners and give Alabama the 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless second inning on both parts, Alabama put five runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Jennifer Fenton led off with a walk before stealing second. Brittany Rogers then singled to advance Fenton to third. Bocca then singled and advanced to third on an error by Samford right fielder Rachael Reeves which brought two runs in. With one out, Bocca scored on a fielder's choice before Burris came on in relief for Barrs. Another run was brought in when Cat Dozier singled down the left field line before the Bulldogs were able to get out of the inning with back-to-back ground outs.
Alabama tacked on four more in the bottom of the fourth while holding the Bulldogs scoreless as the Crimson Tide went on to win, 11-1.
Samford totaled four hits on the night scoring on Fisher's first-inning homerun. Fisher was 2-for-2 while Kylie Harmon and Lawrence both grabbed hits as well. Alabama scored its 11 runs on nine hits.
Amanda Locke (7-0) was the winning pitcher for the Tide, pitching a complete five innings. She gave up just one run on four hits while striking out four batters.
Amanda Barrs (2-10) took the loss for the Bulldogs, lasting just two and one-third innings before being relieved by Burris. Barrs gave up seven runs on five hits while striking out three batters and walking three. Burris came in for one inning, giving up two runs on two hits before Stephanie Royall came in to close, giving up two runs on two hits as well.
"Aaren (Fisher) coming out with that homer in the first inning was big for us," Ketcham said. "It gave us that boost that we needed. I thought our pitchers did well and there were definitely things tonight that we can build on."
The Bulldogs will be back on the road this weekend, April 10-11, as they travel to UNC Greensboro and jump back into conference play. The two teams will meet in a doubleheader on Friday and close out with a single game on Saturday.
