Box Score March 24, 2010
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team split its midweek doubleheader with Murray State Wednesday in the first meeting of the two teams in school history. Samford shut out the Racers, 5-0, in the first game but Murray State put together three three-run home runs in the second game to win, 11-3.
"Obviously, we played really solid in the first game," Samford Head Coach Beanie Ketcham said. "We hit, we played defense and had solid pitching. The difference between the first game and the second game is that we are still struggling to find consistency. As a team, we don't understand how to come out and play consistently and with purpose and passion."
In game one, Samford (9-15) got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when Katie England reached on an error by the second baseman bringing Aaren Fisher home from second. Then Alex Adams doubled to left center to drive in England and put the Bulldogs up, 2-0.
The Bulldogs added two more in the third inning when England doubled down the right field line to drive in Fisher from second base with one out. Adams grounded out to the pitcher to record the second out which advanced England to third base. Amanda Jordan was walked. Amy Gonzalez then singled to drive England home before Jordan was picked off trying to steal third to end the inning.
In the fifth inning with one out already on the board, England singled and then stole second base before Adams doubled to bring her home. The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead and that would be the final score of the first game.
Stephanie Royall (5-3) pitched her second shutout of the year and her third complete game. She recorded six strikeouts in seven innings of play and gave up just three hits while walking only one batter.
Katie England led the Bulldogs with two hits in three at-bats, three runs and two RBI. Alex Adams also went 2-for-3 and had two RBI. Fisher, Gonzalez and Anna Kimbrell also had a hit for Samford while Gonzalez also recorded an RBI.
Starr Gilley (0-1) took the loss for Murray State. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits, struck out four batters and walked two in four and one-third innings of play. Shelby Kosmecki relieved her and pitched the remaining one and two-thirds innings, walking just one batter.
In game two, the Racers scored their first run in the second inning when Christian Cox doubled to drive Jenna Bradley home from second base. They then added three more in the third inning when Bradley hit a three-run shot to left center field. Another run scored when Laura Buch reached base on an error by Jordan with runners on second and third.
Still in the top of the fifth inning, Murray State's Madi Ratliff hit a three-run home run to give the Racers an 8-0 lead. However, Anna Kimbrell put Samford on the scoreboard with her first career home run to left field to make the score 8-1.
Another three-run shot to center field by Bradley in the top of the sixth gave Murray State an 11-1 lead, and despite a two-out two-run double by Reeves in the bottom of the inning, the Racers went on to win, 11-3.
Kosmecki (1-5) earned her first win of the season, pitching the complete six innings. She struck out two batters and walked two while giving up three earned runs on four hits.
Bradley led the Racers, going 3-for-4 with two home runs. She scored one run and batted in six for the Racers. Christian Cox went 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI while Madi Ratliff recorded a hit and three RBI on her home run as a pinch hitter. Five other Racers scored a run while three others recorded a hit.
Barrs (1-8) took the loss, pitching four innings and giving up four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout. Kayla Burris pitched one inning, giving up that three-run home run in the fifth inning. Royall finished out the game with three runs on one hit with two walks and one strikeout.
Four Bulldogs recorded a hit including Barrs, Gonzalez, Reeves and Kimbrell while three scored runs. Reeves recorded two of Samford's RBI while Kimbrell had one.
The Bulldogs are back at home this weekend as they play host to the defending Southern Conference champions and Samford's conference rival, Chattanooga. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting a 1 p.m., while Sunday will see a single game beginning at the same time.
Saturday will start the Samford Home Run Derby. Students and staff are invited to participate starting in between the two games. Three contestants will compete during the break while the rest will compete after the second game.
The Samford Cornhole Tournament benefiting the Jim Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund will also be held on Saturday. The event begins at 1:30 p.m., in the Pete Hanna Center lower parking lot. The cost is $5 for a team of two and all proceeds go directly to the Jim Griffin Memorial Scholarship Fund.
