April 7, 2010

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its non-conference match-up at Auburn Wednesday night as the Tigers shutout the Bulldogs, 13-0, in five innings. Auburn put up 10 runs in the first inning before adding three in the fourth. The Bulldogs fall to 11-22 while the Tigers improve to 21-15.

Amy Gonzalez recorded Samford's only hit of the game with a single in the top of the fifth inning. Stephanie Royall (6-5) took the loss for the Bulldogs, pitching just one-third of an inning while giving up seven runs on six hits in the first inning. Kayla Burris and Emily Waters pitched in relief and gave up a combined three earned runs on seven hits.

Nine of the 14 Tigers who played had at least one hit in the game. Kyndall White and Amber Harrison led the Tigers, going 3-for-3 at the plate. White's home run and double credited her with six RBI while Harrison's single and home run earned her two RBI. Elizabeth Eisterhold also grabbed two RBI with her home run in the first inning.

Anna Thompson pitched a complete game for the Tigers, giving up just one hit and recording eight strikeouts.

Auburn got on the board straight away in the bottom of the first inning on a one-out double by Harrison to drive in White. Eisterhold then followed with a home run to right-center field to take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers put together back-to-back base hits before Kelley Smiley singled to drive in the fourth Auburn run.

After five Auburn hits, Samford pitcher Royall hit Katie Colton and was then replaced by Burris. Burris then hit Krista Clyde to bring in the sixth run for the Tigers and then a grand slam by White put the Tigers up by nine before Caitlin Stangl lined out to second base for the second out.

Harrison then hit the third home run of the inning to give Auburn a 10-0 lead. Eisterhold walked before Kelsey Cartwright popped up to center field for the third out.

Samford was able to keep the Tigers from scoring in the second inning with a three-up, three-down situation which included the Bulldogs' first of only two strikeouts of the game.

The first base-runner for the Bulldogs came in the top of the third inning when Auburn pitcher Anna Thompson walked Rachael Reeves with two outs. However, Reeves was caught stealing on the third pitch of Aaren Fisher's at-bat to record the third out of the inning.

Auburn extended its lead to 13 in the bottom of the fourth when Janelle Green hit a double to put runners on second and third. Then Lianna Wuchte singled to drive in Aurora Salter before White hit a bases-clearing double to put the Tigers up 13-0.

For the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth, Alex Adams flied out to left field for the first out but Amanda Jordan reached base on an error by the first baseman before Gonzalez erased Thompson's no-hitter with a single through the left side. However, Auburn was able to record the next two outs, striking out Kayla Shaffer and Anna Kimbrell.

Samford is off this weekend but will return to action next Tuesday, April 13, as the Bulldogs take on cross-town rival UAB at the Blazers' new home field. The Bulldogs will then be back at home on Thursday for a doubleheader with Ole Miss before hosting Georgia Southern Saturday and Sunday.