Feb. 20, 2011

Box Score

TROY, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team rounded out its first weekend on the road Sunday, falling to Troy by a score of 6-2 in a bonus game after the conclusion of the Quality Inn Classic. The Bulldogs went 1-4 on the weekend and fall to 2-8 on the season.

The Bulldogs started the weekend with a 1-0 win over Central Arkansas Friday afternoon before falling to Bradley, 10-2, Friday evening. On Saturday, Samford fell to North Florida, 3-2, and Troy, 4-1, to round out play in the Quality Inn Classic.

Redshirt freshman Brianna Chambers and true freshman Julianne Surane earned spots on the Quality Inn Classic All-Tournament Team after their performances this weekend.

Chambers led the Bulldogs in their game against North Florida, posting a 3-for-4 performance at the plate including a triple to lead off the game. Surane led Samford throughout the tournament, posting a .600 batting average. She started all four games, collecting six hits, a run and an RBI. She went 2-for-3 against Central Arkansas and batted in the winning run. She also went 2-for-2 against Troy on Saturday and 2-for-3 with a run against North Florida.

"I thought both Bri and Julianne hit the ball well this weekend," Samford head coach Stephanie VanBrakle said. "We just need to strive to be better."

In Sunday's game against Troy (7-3), Aaren Fisher led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. She also scored Samford's first run of the day. Six other players also had a hit for Samford including Kayla Shaffer who batted in Samford's second run of the day.

Nicole Bobrowski (1-2) started the game in the circle for the Bulldogs, giving up four runs on three hits in one inning of play. Kayla Burris pitched five complete innings of relief, giving up one earned run on five hits. She also recorded two strikeouts and allowed two walks.

Sarah Shields led the Trojans, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Five other Trojan players had a hit for Troy while Michelle Hewett and Taylor Smartt each plated two runs. Nikki Hollett and Ashley Adkins scored a run each and Hayden Gann went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Morgan Grove (4-0) earned the win, giving up just one run on seven hits in 3.2 innings of work. She recorded no strikeouts and allowed one walk. Haley Hutchins pitched the final 3.1 innings. She gave up one run on one hit, struck out one batter and allowed one walk.

Troy struck first, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hewett hit a triple to lead off the order and plated the Trojans' first run when Smartt followed with a base hit. Gann popped up for the first out of the inning but Shields singled to bring Smartt home. With the bases load and one out, Bobrowski walked Jordan McAllister which also brought in the third run.

The Trojans extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Gann doubled with two runners on. Samford finally got on the board in the top of the third when Alex Adams hit a deep single to left field to bring Fisher all the way home from first base. However, Troy answered back in the bottom of the inning to move ahead, 6-1.

Samford plated another run in the top of the sixth inning when Shaffer doubled to center field with runners on second and third. However, Troy would hold Samford scoreless and would walk away with the 6-2 victory.

Samford will be back in action next weekend as it helps host the annual Magic City Classic. The Bulldogs will start tournament play at UAB, taking on Lipscomb Friday night before returning home on Saturday to play Indiana State and Alabama State. The Samford will round out tournament play with Radford on Sunday.