May 9, 2009
Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ---- The Samford softball team fought through nine innings Saturday before Georgia Southern's Amanda Hall hit a triple to score the winning run to lift the Eagles over Samford, 4-3, in the Southern Conference Tournament semifinal game.
No. 4 seed Georgia Southern (29-24) will advance to play No. 1 seed Chattanooga in the championship game Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (21-30) faced the top four seeded teams in the conference throughout the three-day tournament. They will end the 2009 season going to the conference tournament semifinals for the second year in a row and posting their 10th consecutive 20-win season. Samford had to overcome several obstacles this season, so this appearance in the Southern Conference Tournament was especially rewarding for the Bulldog team.
"We learned to fight through adversity this year," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "I knew we had a good team; we just kept having to get over hurdles. I am proud of the kids for fighting. We were able to put a very good team on the field the last couple of weeks and gain a little confidence going into the tournament."
After five scoreless innings, Georgia Southern took a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Fogle scored the Eagles' first run as hall reached first base on a Samford error with two runners on base. After Royall struck Sam Russo out, she walked Megen Smith to load the bases. Side then singled up the middle to score Hall and Siliga before Samford could record the final two outs of the inning.
Samford answered with two runs of its own to cut the lead to one in the bottom of the inning. Lawrence led the inning off with a double to center field before advancing to third as Whitney Terry reached first base on an Eagle throwing error. Amanda Jordan then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Lawrence and advance Terry to second base.
A passed ball gave the runners a chance to advance to second and third, and with two outs, Owens singled down the left field line to score Terry.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force an eighth inning when Lawrence hit her sixth home run of the year to left field.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Georgia Southern took a 4-3 lead when Hall tripled to score what would be the winning run. The Eagles then allowed two Bulldogs on base in the bottom of the ninth via a walk and a fielder's choice, but Georgia Southern was able to get out of the inning and salvage the win.
Samford's seniors will end the season leading their team in hitting. Although Kylie Harmon was 0-for-4 in Saturday's game, she will go out ranked second on the team with a .339 batting average and 19 stolen bases which is tied for second on the single-season list. Jessica Owens and Kristy Lawrence led the Bulldogs Saturday as Owens went 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI while Lawrence was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
"Our seniors have really left their mark," Ketcham said. "In a couple of years, when this program takes off, they will have been a huge part of that leap. They are first class, on and off the field."
Amanda Jordan was credited with the Bulldogs' only other RBI while Stephanie Royall (9-10) took the loss for the Bulldogs in the pitcher's circle. Royall pitched 5.2 innings of relief, striking out three batters and walking three while giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits. Amanda Barrs started the game for the Bulldogs and lasted 3.1 innings before being pulled after loading the bases in the fourth inning. Barrs gave up just three hits while striking out one batter and walking two.
Robyn Siliga led Georgia Southern with a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate, scoring two runs. Hall and Jenny Side also had two hits for the Eagles while Nina Iduate, Marie Fogle and Michelle Beasley had one hit each. Side had two RBI and Hall had one.
Brianna Streetmon pitched all nine innings for the Eagles as she struck out five Bulldogs and walked three while giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits.
