April 15, 2010

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its midweek doubleheader with Ole Miss Thursday, losing the first game by a score of 7-3 and the second by a score of 3-1. The night cap was the Bulldogs' fourth loss in a row and drops them to 11-25 on the year while Ole Miss improved to 23-18.

Ole Miss came out and took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning of the first game after a one-out two-run home run by Lauren Grill and a two-out bases-loaded single by Cali Overbeck. The Rebels then extended their lead to seven in the top of the fifth with a two-run homer by the second batter Overbeck followed by a two-run shot by Ashley Dowdy.

Samford finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when Alex Adams grounded out with one out and runners on second and third to drive in Amanda Barrs. Amy Gonzalez then singled up the middle to drive in Katie England before Ole Miss could record the final two outs.

The Bulldogs closed the gap to four in the bottom of the seventh after Anna Kimbrell led off with a double to left field. Madeline Baker then pinch ran for Kimbrell and Barrs singled to advance Baker to third. England grounded out to the shortstop to drive in Baker before Alex Adams lined out to third base to end the game.

Barrs and Amy Gonzalez each went 2-for-3 at the plate while three other Bulldogs had one hit each. Barrs, England and Baker scored the three runs while England, Adams and Gonzalez were each credited with an RBI.

Barrs (1-13) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and walking four batters while also striking out three. Stephanie Royall pitched two innings while Kayla Burris pitched one, each giving up just one hit.

Three Rebels had two hits each including Brittany Barnhill, Overbeck and Dowdy. Overbeck also had three RBI while Dowdy and Grill had two each, and seven different Ole Miss players scored runs.

Barnhill pitched a complete game and recorded seven strikeouts with only three walks. She gave up three earned runs on seven hits.

In game two, Ole Miss took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Alyssa McGovern scored on a wild pitch by Royall before Aly Presswood scored from third on a one-out groundout to second base. The Rebels added another run in the top of the third when Brittany Broome scored on an error by the third baseman.

Samford scored in the bottom of the fourth inning when Aaren Fisher doubled with two outs to drive in Kayla Shaffer from third base. Kimbrell then lined out to third base for the second out while Shaffer was thrown out at third base on the same play to end the inning.

Fisher and Shaffer led the Bulldogs in the second game. Fisher went 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI while Shaffer was 2-for-2 with one run. Royall (6-7) pitched a complete game and took the loss, giving up just one earned run on four hits. She walked three batters and struck out only one.

Grill led the Rebels in the second game with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Corrine Doornberg and Barnhill each had one of the Rebels' other two hits while Broome, McGovern and Presswood scored the runs. Dowdy recorded Ole Miss' only RBI.

Lindsey Perry (7-3) also pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run on four hits. She struck out nine batters and walked three.

Samford will be back in action this weekend as it jumps back into Southern Conference play and hosts Georgia Southern. The Bulldogs and Eagles will meet for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and will close out the series with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.