Feb. 13, 2011

Box Score

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team split a pair of games Sunday to close out play in the All-Alabama Classic at the Vestavia Hills Sports Complex. The Bulldogs used three home runs to take a 9-1 decision against Alabama State before falling to Auburn, 5-0, in the final game of the tournament.

"It was great to get our first win of the season," Samford head coach Stephanie VanBrakle said. "We came out with a lot of heart and intensity today and played much better than yesterday. It's good to see the fight in the team after a rough day yesterday. It was tough competition for us this weekend and we can see what we still need to work on. It's about the process and us getting better day in and out."

Redshirt freshman Brianna Chambers and true freshman Nicole Bobrowski hit their first career home runs in Samford's win over Alabama State. Junior Robyn Harmom hit her first of the season in the first inning against the Hornets.

Chambers led the Bulldogs against Alabama State, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and three RBI. Whitney Terry also went 3-for-3 with an RBI while Aaren Fisher and Harmon each went 2-for-4. Fisher added a run while Harmon posted two RBI and scored two runs.

Alex Adams and Bobrowski each went 1-for-2 at the plate and scored a run while Bobrowski also tallied an RBI. Amanda Jordan and Madeline Baker also each scored a run for the Bulldogs.

Kayla Burris (1-1) earned the win for Samford, pitching a complete game and giving up just one earned run on nine hits. She struck out four batters and walked one.

For the Hornets, Brehanna Rodrigues, Meagan Dixon and Sosefina Toilolo tallied two hits each to lead their team. Mercedes Frazier, Stephanie Hernandez and Megan Surovik also posted one hit each. Hernandez tallied ASU's only RBI as she batted in Dixon who scored the Hornets' only run.

Sarah Levern (0-2) took the loss for the Hornets, giving up five earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work. She struck out three batters and walked three as well.

Samford quickly got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With one out in the inning, Harmon belted a home run to center field to plate Samford's first run of the game. Jordan then walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. Chambers followed with a deep single to center field, which brought Jordan in to put Samford ahead, 2-0.

After a quiet second inning, Samford added two more runs to the board in the bottom of the third inning as Chambers homered with a runner on base and one out. The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning after Terry hit a single that scored Chambers from third base.

Alabama State finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Hernandez got a base hit to move the runners and score Dixon. Toilolo was originally called safe but the call was reversed when it was decided that the throw from left field to third base was in time to get the out. Burris struck out Macy Rodruguez to record the final out and move to the bottom of the inning with a 5-1 lead.

Samford opened up the lead quickly in the bottom of the inning as Baker walked, stole second and third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Fisher then stepped up and got a base hit before Harmon tripled to bring Fisher home, and then Harmon scored on another error by the catcher. Jordan popped up for the first out of the inning but Bobrowski ended the game with a walk-off home run to hand Samford the 9-1 win.

Against Auburn, Jordan was the only batter to get a hit for Samford. She went 2-for-3 at the plate. Harmon (0-2) started the game and earned the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in the first inning. Burris finished the final four innings for Samford, giving up three runs on four hits. She struck out one batter and walked five.

Morgan Estell led the Tigers with a 2-for-3 performance and two runs. Kyndall White also went 2-for-3 while tallying a run and three RBI. Lauren Guzman, Elizabeth Eisterhold and Kelley Smiley each had a hit for Auburn while Amber Harrision tallied an RBI.

Angel Bunner (1-0) earned the win, pitching a complete game and giving up just two hits. She struck out two batters and walked one.

The Bulldogs will be back in action next weekend as they head to Troy, Ala., to play in the Quality Inn Classic. The Bulldogs will take on Central Arkansas, Bradley, North Florida and Troy in the three-day tournament.