March 12, 2011

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ---- The Samford softball team fell in both games of a doubleheader at Chattanooga to start the Southern Conference season Saturday.Chattanooga won the first game, 11-0 and the second game by a score of 5-3. Samford falls to 3-17 and 0-2 in league play while Chattanooga improves to 17-3, 2-0 in the SoCon.

In the first game, the Lady Mocs used a two-RBI single to jump on top after retiring Samford in order in the first inning. In the second inning, an RBI single and another RBI double extended the lead to 4-0 before Tiffany Baker blasted a three-run home run to put UTC ahead 7-0. The Lady Mocs ended the inning with a two-RBI triple and made it an 11-0 ballgame in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Natalie Powers.

Powers and Michelle Fuzzard led the Lady Mocs at the plate. Powers was 2-for-3 with four RBI and a run while Fuzzard was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Fuzzard (8-3) also pitched a five-inning one-hitter, striking out one batter and walking one.

Amanda Jordan had the only hit for the Bulldogs with a single to left field in the second inning. Kayla Burris (2-8) took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up 11 runs on 13 hits in 3.2 innings. She recorded two strikeouts and two walks, while Emily Waters recorded the last out of the game on a swinging strikeout.

In game two, it was the Bulldogs who struck the first blow. With one out, Harmon was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Alex Adams. Kayla Shaffer then reached base on a fielder's choice, Harmon scored and Adams advanced to third on a muffed throw by the shortstop. Aaren Fisher followed with a single to score Adams and put Samford ahead, 2-0.

Jordan led off the second inning with her first home run of the season to put the Bulldogs up, 3-0. However, UTC answered back with a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Kasey Tydingco, and added another in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice hit by Fuzzard to cut the Bulldogs' lead to one. The Lady Mocs moved into the lead after a two-run double and an RBI single in the sixth inning. UTC retired Samford in the top of the seventh to seal the win, 5-3.

Fisher led the Bulldogs in the second game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Harmon, Adams, Jordan and Arica Dykes also recorded hits while Shaffer and Jordan each had two of the Bulldogs' three RBI.

Harmon (0-6) pitched a complete game, giving up five runs on eight hits. She recorded three strikeouts and allowed five walks.

Lyndsey Stiles led the Lady Mocs in game two with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, two runs and an RBI. Sara Poteat also went 2-for-3 while Della Harrison, Jessica Traxler and Lauren Flores each recorded a hit.

Nikki Waters pitched the first inning and gave up two runs on three hits while Kandice Irwin (5-1) earned the win, pitching the remainder of the game and giving up three hits and recording six strikeouts.

The Bulldogs and Lady Mocs will close out the series Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can follow live stats through links at the Samford softball schedule page at www.samfordsports.com. A full recap and final statistics will also be available upon the conclusion of the game.