March 13, 2011

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ---- The Samford softball team dropped the final game of its series at Chattanooga, 10-4, as the Lady Mocs completed the sweep of the Bulldogs in the Southern Conference opening weekend on Sunday.

After both teams went quietly in the first inning, Samford scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. Amanda Jordan led off the inning with her second home run of the year and her second of the weekend. UTC retired the next two batters but the Bulldogs followed with back-to-back singles to get two runners on base. However, the runners were left stranded as the Lady Mocs were able to record the last out and get out of the inning without further damage.

The Lady Mocs answered back in the bottom of the inning, putting up seven runs to take over the lead. After the first batter fouled out, Della Harrison hit a triple followed by a double by Jessica Traxler to drive in the Lady Mocs' first run. Natalie Powers then followed with a double to drive in Traxler to give UTC the lead, and the hits kept coming. After two-RBI single, a two-RBI double and another RBI single, the Lady Mocs had taken over, 7-1.

UTC added two more runs in the bottom of the third with another two-RBI single by Lyndsey Stiles. The Bulldogs matched that inning with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning. Kayla Shaffer grounded out to third base to start the inning but Robyn Harmon followed with a single up the middle to reach base. Nicole Bobrowski then doubled and advanced to third on the throw while Harmon moved around the bases and scored on a muffed throw by the catcher. Bobrowski made it a 9-3 game as she scored on a ground out by Brianna Chambers.

In the sixth inning, UTC scored its tenth run when Kasey Tydingco grounded out with the bases loaded to drive in Sarah Poteat from third. Samford added another run in the top of the seventh. Harmon led the inning off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a single by Jordan. However, the Lady Mocs held Samford scoreless for the rest of the inning and walked away with the 10-4 win.

Harmon led the Bulldogs with two runs and a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Bobrowski was 2-for-3 with one run and Jordan and Terry each were 2-for-4. Jordan also had a team-high two RBI while Chambers also recorded an RBI.

Harmon (0-8) also took the loss in the circle, giving up six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings. Emily Waters came in and pitched the final 4.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and recording one strikeout and two walks.

Stiles led the Lady Mocs with a 3-for-4 performance, two RBI and one run. Traxler and Powers went 2-for-3 with two runs and also each had an RBI. Baker, Tydingco, Harrison and Poteat also each had a hit for UTC.

Michelle Fuzzard started the game in the circle for the Lady Mocs. She pitched two innings, giving up one run on four hits before being relieved by Kandace Irwin. Irwin (6-1) earned the win, giving up just one earned run on eight hits in five innings of work. She recorded seven strikeouts and allowed no walks.

Samford falls to 3-18 overall and 0-3 in the SoCon while Chattanooga improves to 16-5, 3-0 in league play.

Samford returns home this weekend to host six games in five days. The Bulldogs will start things off with a single game on Wednesday with Georgia State. They will then host Jacksonville State for a doubleheader on Thursday and will take on Furman in a Saturday-Sunday conference series over the weekend. To see times for all of the games, go to the Samford softball schedule page at www.samfordsports.com.