May 8, 2009
Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ---- A seventh inning walk-off homerun lifted No. 1 seed Chattanooga over No. 7 seed Samford in the last quarterfinal contest of the Southern Conference Tournament Friday. The Bulldogs will face No. 4 seed Georgia Southern Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in an elimination game.
With the game tied at two runs a piece, Chattanooga's Michelle Fuzzard was first up in the bottom of the seventh inning and single-handedly won the game for the Lady Mocs with a walk-off homer to make the score 3-2.
"We fought hard and played well," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "There were just some tough breaks and this one is on me."
The Lady Mocs were the first to score as Tiffany Baker led off the second inning with a home run to right center field. After Toni Hutchinson singled, the Bulldogs retired the next three batters and were able to get out of the inning.
Samford answered with two runs of its own in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Whitney Terry led off the inning and reached first base on a Chattanooga error. Amanda Jordan then bunted to advance Terry to second base, and was out on the throw to first. Amy Gonzalez struck out looking, and Jessica Owens followed with a single to the shortstop to advance Terry to third base.
Owens reached second on a wild pitch and Terry scored to tie the game. Kylie Harmon then doubled to bring home Owens for the lead before Amanda Barrs fouled out to end the inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning and a Bulldog pitching change (Robyn Harmon for Stephanie Royall), Samford loaded the bases and Baker reached on a fielder's choice that scored Lyndsey Stiles. The score was now tied at two, but Samford brought in Barrs to pitch and the Bulldogs got out of the inning.
Samford got one runner on base in the top of the seventh, but Chattanooga played good defense and retired two Bulldogs before Kandice Irwin struck out Aaren Fisher, looking.
Owens led the Bulldogs, going 2-for-3 and scoring one run. Kylie Harmon and Katie England each had one hit while Harmon was credited with Samford's only RBI.
Barrs (5-14) took the loss as she pitched the final one and two-thirds innings. She struck out one batter and walked one while giving up one run on three hits. Royall started for the Bulldogs and pitched 4.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out one batter before being relieved by Robyn Harmon. After Harmon walked two batters and gave up one run and one hit, she was relieved by Barrs.
Stiles led Chattanooga at the plate, going 2-for-3 and scoring one run. Five other Lady Mocs recorded hits while Baker and Fuzzard were credited with Chattanooga's three RBI.
Irwin (9-10) earned the win for the Lady Mocs as she struck out two batters and gave up only one hit in two innings of relief. Brooke Loudermilk started for Chattanooga and lasted five innings, striking out three batters and walking one while giving up two unearned runs on three hits.
First pitch between the Bulldogs and Georgia Southern Eagles begins at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday. Live video streaming will be available for the game on SoCon.TV and fans can also follow the action via live stats through links at www.soconsports.comwww.soconsports.com. A full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com upon the completion of the game.
