Oct. 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team gave fans a preview of the 2011 squad Sunday at the Bulldog Fall Classic at Samford's Bulldog Softball Field. The Bulldogs defeated Shelton State and Jefferson State in their first live action of the fall season.
In the first game of the day, Jefferson State defeated Shelton State. Then, it was Samford's turn to take the field and the Bulldogs came away with a 10-0 win over Shelton State in game two. The Bulldogs then closed out the day with a 15-0 win over Jefferson State.
"I thought we did well overall as a team," Samford head coach Stephanie VanBrakle said. "We still have some things that we need to iron out and get better at, but we have come a very long way from September. Overall, I was thrilled about how we showed up to play.
"I am very proud of this team for what we have accomplished and how much we have improved in such a short time. They have been buying in and doing what we ask and now that they have seen some success, we can't settle. This should make them want to work even harder and get even better. We still have a lot to prove."
Returning Bulldog pitchers senior Kayla Burris and junior Robyn Harmon combined for 10 complete innings and 16 strikeouts while holding their opponents to a .061 batting average.
"I thought both of our pitchers did well for their first outing," VanBrakle said. "KB was lights out the first game and we did a good job of keeping the ball low and hitting spots. I was especially impressed that we got out of some of the situations in a few of the innings. Robyn did well also. She was efficient and hit her spots and let the defense work for her, which is something I have been harping on the pitching staff about."
Senior Amanda Jordan led the Bulldogs on the day, going 6-for-7 at the plate with two doubles and four RBI. Senior Aaren Fisher went 4-for-5 on the day, scoring five runs and batting in four. Freshman Nicole Bobrowski came in with a hot bat as she went 3-for-5 on the day with two home runs and a double to drive in six runs.
"Nicole really hit well and I was impressed with the home runs," VanBrakle said. "We knew all fall that she had a lot of potential and the way she hit in batting practice finally showed up in a game. Both AJ and Fisher are seniors that did well for us and we will continue to need them to be consistent for us to be successful."
Against Shelton State, Jordan went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. She drove in the first run in the bottom of the first inning with a double up the middle. She also scored two runs and had one putout at shortstop. Harmon and Fisher each went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Harmon, who played first base for the first game, scored one run.
Bobrowski went 1-for-2 with her only hit, a two-run bomb to left field, coming in the fourth inning. Alex Adams and Arica Dykes also each had a hit and a run while Madeline Baker scored a run while pinch-running for Bobrowski. Gonzalez also scored a run after being walked in the fourth inning.
Kayla Burris pitched a complete five-inning game, giving up only two hits and walking one batter. She struck out 11 batters.
Hannah Pendley and TJ Huddleston posted the only two hits for Shelton State. Molly Washington pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 10 runs on 11 hits while striking out just one batter. Kristina Kelly closed out the game for Shelton State.
Against Jefferson State, Jordan led again with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. She batted in three runs, bringing in two with a double on her first at-bat. Fisher and red-shirt freshman Brianna Chambers both went 2-for-2 at the plate. Fisher scored three runs and batted in two while Chambers scored one run after replacing Alex Adams in left field. Bobrowski went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double in the fourth. Regan Bates, Adams, Baker, Anna Kimbrell, Gonzalez, Dykes and Juliane Surane each posted a hit for the Bulldogs as well.
Harmon pitched a no-hitter in the five-inning game against Jefferson State. She recorded five strikeouts.
Cori Pack pitched the first inning and a third for Jefferson State, giving up seven runs on six hits before being relieved by Amanda Talley. Talley gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out one in one and two-thirds innings and Brittney McConnell closed out the game, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out three batters.
The Bulldogs continue fall play this weekend as they head to Tuscaloosa to play in a fall tournament hosted by the University of Alabama. The Bulldogs will take on Wallace-Hanceville and the Crimson Tide.
"Both of these games will be another test to see how we rise to the challenge," VanBrakle said. "This weekend was only a small step in the big goal we are trying to accomplish here. We have to continue to push to get better in all facets of the game and peak at the right time. If we do this, the spring is going to be fun to watch!"
This weekend's games will wrap up the fall season for the Bulldogs. Samford will open its 2011 season on Feb. 11 against Alabama at Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills, Ala.
