April 18, 2010

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team captured its first Southern Conference series win Sunday with a 7-2 victory over Georgia Southern. The win was Samford's second-straight and improves the Bulldogs to 13-26 overall and 3-11 in league play. The Eagles fall to 21-21 overall and 7-7 in SoCon play.

"We are ecstatic," Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham said. "I'm just very proud of them. Up until now, it just seemed like there was just one thing that wouldn't go our way - either we couldn't get a big hit or we pitch a three-hitter but we make one bad pitch that costs us the whole game. So, it just really feels good to win two close games and be in the third one. I just think it's about getting over that mental hump and knowing that you can do it."

After three scoreless innings and only four hits between the two teams, Samford sparked an offensive burst that resulted in three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aaren Fisher led off the inning with a swinging strikeout before Katie England reached base on a walk. Alex Adams was then hit by a pitch to reach and was subbed for by Madeline Baker.

With two on and one out, Amanda Barrs laid down a bunt to move the runners into scoring position and then Amanda Jordan hit a two-out single up the middle to drive in the first run. Kayla Shaffer followed with a single of her own deep down the left field line to drive in Jordan and Baker as the Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead.

Georgia Southern responded in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 3-2 on a two-run home run by Megen Smith with one out. However, Kayla Burris replaced Barrs in the pitcher's circle and the Bulldogs retired the Eagles on a fly out and a swinging strikeout after two walks.

The Bulldogs added two more runs to their score in the bottom of the fifth when Fisher hit a one-out two-run homer to left-center field. Samford then extended its lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning on a bunt single and a fielder's choice.

Jordan and Barrs led the Bulldogs at the plate against the Eagles on Sunday. Jordan went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI while Barrs was 2-for-2 with one run scored. Fisher, Shaffer, Reeves and Kimbrell also each had a hit for the Bulldogs and Gonzalez and Reeves were credited with one RBI while Shaffer had two.

Barrs pitched 4.1 innings before being taken out after giving up the two-run homer by Smith. She gave up just two earned runs on six hits while striking out three batters and walking two. Burris pitched the final 2.2 innings and gave up just one hit while walking two batters and striking out three.

Nina Iduate led the Eagles, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Five other Georgia Southern players had one hit while Burnett and Smith scored the two runs on Smith's homer.

Brianna Streetmon (15-9) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits. She walked one batter and struck out two before being replaced by Megen Smith in the fifth inning. Smith pitched 1.2 innings and gave up one earned run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Samford is back in action Wednesday when it plays host to cross-town rival UAB at 6 p.m. while baseball takes on UAB at the same time. The games are in conjunction with the Samford Crawfish Boil for faculty, staff and students. The Bulldogs will then wrap up the eight-game homestand on Thursday with a doubleheader against Mississippi Valley State (4 p.m.) and Jackson State (6:30 p.m.).