Feb. 26, 2010

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its first game of the Magic City Classic Friday to Nicholls State in game four. A late run by the Colonels broke a 2-2 tie and gave Nicholls State its second win of the day. Samford falls to 4-3 while Nicholls State moves to 6-1.

"Nicholls State came out and did what they had to do," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "I thought we pitched pretty well but we didn't play well on defense and we didn't hit well enough. We just didn't execute very well today, and you can't play a good solid team like that and not execute."

Although the game was being played on Bulldog Field, a pregame coin flip decided which team was home and which was away for the tournament. Samford ended up being home for Friday evening's game.

Alex Adams put the Bulldogs on the board in the top of the second inning with a lead-off homerun, her second of the year. However, Nicholls State retired the next three batters and tie things up in the bottom of the inning with one run on a bases-loaded single.

After a scoreless third and fourth, Nicholls State shut out Samford in the top of the fifth before taking a 2-1 lead. Samford tied the score in the top of the sixth when Robyn Harmon scored on an error by the third baseman. However, the Colonels scored on a double in the bottom of the inning and then secured the win by shutting out Samford in the top of the seventh.

"I was pleased with how (Amanda) Barrs pitched and how Robyn (Harmon) pitched," Ketcham said, "We just gave up too many extra bases."

Barrs started the contest for Samford and pitched four and two-thirds innings. She gave up two earned runs on seven hits and struck out one batter before being relieved by Harmon. Harmon (1-2) took the loss for Samford, giving up the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. She faced seven batters, striking out two while walking one.

Adams led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate against the Colonels. She and Barrs combined for both of Samford's RBI while Aaren Fisher and Katie England each had a hit and a stolen base for the Bulldogs.

Lacey Gros (3-0) earned the win for the Colonels, pitching the complete game and striking out seven batters. She gave up just one earned run on five hits.

Kayla Watterson and Whitney Roan led Nicholls State with 2-for-2 outings while Natalie Travasos, Audrey Wood, Lauren Batiz and Lyndsey Mesh each had hits for the Colonels. Batiz, Megan Gaspard and Lauren Martinez also each scored for Nicholls State.

In other Magic City Classic action, Nicholls State shutout Alabama State, 5-0, in the first game of the day. Troy then defeated Alabama State, 6-4, before falling to UAB, 4-1.

Saturday's action will begin at 11 a.m. ET, when Troy and Nicholls State face off. UAB and Alabama State will then collide at 1:15 p.m., followed by Samford's doubleheader with Alabama State and UAB starting at 3:30 pm.

A full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com upon the completion of Saturday's action. Fans can follow Samford's game versus UAB on Gametracker.