Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its doubleheader on day two of the All-Alabama Classic Saturday to South Alabama, 10-3, and UAB, 7-3 at Liberty Park. The Bulldogs fall to 0-3 on the season.

Aaren Fisher and Robyn Harmon led the Bulldogs against South Alabama. Fisher went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run while Harmon was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Amanda Jordan, Alex Adams and Whitney Terry each posted a hit for the Bulldogs while Jordan and Kayla Shaffer scored a run and Adams had an RBI.

Kayla Burris (0-1) started the game for Samford, pitching 6.1 innings and giving up 10 runs on 12 hits. She recorded four strikeouts and walked four batters. Nicole Bobrowski closed out the game, earning the final two outs and giving up just one hit.

Four players had two hits for the Jaguars while five had a hit as well. Meghan Collins and Brittany Fowler led USA, each going 2-for-3 with two runs. Fowler also had two of the Jaguars' 10 RBI, along with Britany Campbell and Haley Hopkins who also tallied two RBI each. Hopkins and Christin Crocker each went 2-for-5 at the plate.

Campbell (1-0) pitched a complete game, giving up three unearned runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters and walking one.

It was a back and forth affair as each team scored three runs in the first two innings. The score remained tied through the fourth inning but South Alabama tacked on a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. Then the Jaguars opened up the bats and added five runs in the top of the seventh to take the game, 10-3.

South Alabama scored right out of the gate as Hopkins hit a home run with two outs in the top of the first inning, but Samford answered back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Jordan got Fisher in scoring position with a deep single before Fisher scored while Adams reached base on an error. Jordan advanced to third on a single by Terry before scoring on a passed ball.

The Jaguars opened the second inning with a home run by Fowler followed by a double by Richards. With a 3-2 lead, USA had several more opportunities to score but left three stranded to end the inning. In the bottom of the second inning, Harmon homered with a runner on base to tie the score at three runs apiece.

USA broke the tie in the fifth inning after Crocker singled to bring Campbell in from third base. The Jaguars added another run to the board in the sixth inning when Stevens homered to center field before notching five runs on six hits in the top of the seventh to take the game, 10-3.

Against the Blazers, Shaffer led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate while also scoring a run. Fisher, Adams and Frates also posted a hit for the Bulldogs. Adams scored a run while Frates tallied two RBI on a home run.

Harmon (0-2) pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs on eight hits. She also struck out three batters while walking three.

Kayla Orr, Hailey Glynn and Sallie Van Kirk posted two runs for the Blazers while Kristen McGrath and Erica Sisson each had a hit. Van Kirk led UAB, going 2-for-2 at the plate with RBI and scoring two runs.

Amber Torres (1-0) started in the circle for UAB, pitching four complete innings and giving up just two earned runs on three hits. She struck out three batters and walked two. Alisha Smith pitched the final three innings, giving up one run on two hits and recording four strikeouts.

It was the bottom of the second inning before anyone got on the board. Van Kirk hit a double with runners on first and third and advanced to third on the throw, scoring Glynn and McGrath.

Samford answered back in the top of the fourth inning when Frates rattled off her first career home run with Adams on second to tie the score at two. In the bottom of the inning, UAB tacked on three runs to take a 5-2 lead. In the top of the fifth, Shaffer scored from third base on an error by the shortstop to cut the UAB lead to two. However, the Blazers added two more in the bottom of the sixth and held Samford scoreless in the top of the seventh to take the win.

Samford will close out tournament play Sunday with an 11 a.m. match versus Alabama State, and a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Auburn. Fans can follow the Bulldogs' game against Auburn via live stats through links on the Samford softball schedule page at www.samfordsports.com. A full recap and results will be available at the completion of the doubleheader.