April 2, 2010

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. ---- The Samford softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader at the College of Charleston Friday, 10-2 and 4-0. Samford falls to 10-21 overall and 1-10 in Southern Conference play while Charleston improves to 13-16 overall and 3-4 in league play.

In the first game, Charleston scored in every inning except for the third, and the third inning was the only inning in which Samford scored. The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 start when Kristie Shifflett singled with runners on second and third to drive in her sister, Amber. That play was followed by a sacrifice fly by Kelley Dillon to bring home Kristi Woodall from third.

Katie Pesature then led off the second inning with a home run to extend the Cougars' lead to 3-0. With two outs and two runners on, Hillary Stringer scored from third on a wild pitch by Samford pitcher Stephanie Royall. Kristie Shifflett then walked before Dillon doubled to left center to score Shifflett and Woodall to give Charleston a 6-0 lead.

Samford finally got on the board when Alex Adams homered with two outs and one runner on base in the top of the third inning. However, the Cougars would score three more in the fourth inning and another in the fifth to end the game early on the run-rule.

Adams led Samford, going 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI. England scored the other run on Adams' home run in the second inning. The only other Bulldog to get a hit in the first game was Amy Gonzalez.

Royall (5-4) started the game for the Bulldogs and took the loss after pitching one and two-thirds innings. She gave up four earned runs on five hits and walked two batters. Kayla Burris relieved for the last two and two-thirds innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits and striking out three batters while walking two.

Amber Shifflett and Woodall led the Cougars, going 3-for-3 and 3-for-4 respectively. Kristie Shifflett and Dillon also each went 2-for-2 while Katie Forbes and Pesature each grabbed a hit as well. Dillon recorded three RBI while Woodall and Forbes had two and Kristie Shifflett and Pesature each had one.

Alexa Datko (4-7) earned the win for the Cougars, pitching the complete five innings and giving up just two earned runs on three hits. She struck out four Bulldogs and walked three.

Charleston scored right off the bat in the second game as well. In the first inning, the Cougars put together back-to-back singles after the first out was recorded to put runners in scoring position. Amanda Lonergan then followed with a double to drive in the first two runs.

The Cougars struck again in the fourth inning with a lead-off home run by Lonergan and a two-out double by Stringer. Charleston would win the second game, 4-0.

England led the Bulldogs in the second game with a 2-for-3 appearance at the plate while Amanda Barrs, Gonzalez and Rachael Reeves each recorded a hit as well.

Emily Waters (1-1) took her first loss of the season, pitching three innings and giving up four earned runs on six hits. Barrs pitched the last three innings, giving up just two hits while walking two batters and striking out one.

Kristie Shifflett and Lonergan led Charleston, going 2-for-2 and 2-for-3 respectively. Four other Cougars had one hit each while Lonergan tallied three RBI and Stringer had one.

Terri Mesko (5-6) pitched a complete game, giving up five hits while striking out six batters and walking three.

The Bulldogs and the Cougars will close out the weekend series on Saturday at 12 p.m. A full recap and results will be available on www.samfordsports.com upon the completion of the game.