March 17, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped both game of a doubleheader Thursday as Jacksonville State used six home runs to sweep the Bulldogs, 10-1 and 7-3.

Although the first game was over after six innings due to the eight-run rule, the Bulldogs battled back in the second game, leading 3-2 after the fourth inning, but eventually lost on two home runs by the Gamecocks in the seventh inning.

"We had a great comeback in the second game," Samford head coach Stephanie VanBrakle said. "We started to hit well. We just need to put it all together now - pitch well, hit well, and play defense well."

Both teams went quietly in the first inning of the first game but JSU (16-6) quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a three-run home run by Abbey Stepp in the second inning. Stepp then made it a 5-0 game in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run bomb to center field.

The Bulldogs (3-21) got on the board when Lakan Smith scored on a fielder's choice by Nicole Bobrowski, and Samford cut the Gamecocks' lead to 5-1. However, Amanda Crow hit a three-run home run to left field in the top of the fifth while Hayden Crawford added a two-run home run to center field to ice the ballgame. The Gamecocks won game one, 10-1.

Brianna Chambers and Lakan Smith each had a hit for the Bulldogs in game one while Smith scored Samford's only run, batted in by Bobrowski. Robyn Harmon (0-8) took the loss in the circle, giving up five runs on four hits in 3.2 innings of play. She also struck out one batter. Bobrowski pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up five runs on six hits with one strikeout and two walks.

Crawford, Stepp and Sallie Beth Burch each posted two hits for the Gamecocks while Stepp had five RBI, Crow had three RBI and Crawford had two RBI. All but three players in the lineup also scored at least one run for JSU.

Kristin Graham (1-0) earned the win for the Gamecocks, giving up just one run on two hits in five innings of play. She struck out four batters and allowed a walk. Ashley Eliasson pitched the final inning, recording one strikeout.

In game two, JSU got on the board right out of the gate on an RBI-single by Crow to score Graham. The Gamecocks added another run in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Stepp to drive Crawford in.

Samford then took over the lead, the Bulldogs' first lead in a game since game two at Chattanooga last weekend. Harmon hit a bomb to right field with Julianne Surane and Madeline Baker on base to put the Bulldogs on top, 3-2. However, JSU took the lead back in the top of the fourth with a two RBI-single by Crawford.

The Gamecocks added another run in the top of the fifth when Burch singled and then advanced on an error by the center fielder to score Stepp and make it a 5-3 game. Home runs by Amanda Crow and Kaycee Crow in the top of the seventh made it a 7-3 game and the Gamecocks walked away with the series sweep.

Julianne Surane and Harmon each went 2-for-4 at the plate in game two. Both also scored a run while Harmon had three RBI. Aaren Fisher also went 2-for-3 and Allison Reynolds was 1-for-2 at the plate.

Emily Waters (0-1) took the loss, giving up four earned runs on nine hits in six innings of play. She struck out one batter and allowed four walks. Kayla Burris pitched the final inning, giving up one run on one hit.

Stepp went 2-for-3 while Krystal Ruth went 2-for-4. Stepp and Crawford also led the team in RBI with two each. Tiffany Harbin (10-4) earned the win, giving up just one hit in 3.2 innings of play after relieving Savanna Hennings in the third inning. Henning gave up three runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work while Hilary Phillips pitched the final inning and gave up just one hit. Hennings recorded three strikeouts while Harbin had four.

Thursday was also celebrated as "Allison Reynolds Day" as a part of a series of games throughout this season in which the Bulldogs will honor each of its five seniors. Every senior will have a day dedicated to her when fans can come celebrate all that she has done for the Samford softball program. Senior days still to come are Kayla Burris Day (March 19), Aaren Fisher Day (March 20), Whitney Terry Day (March 26) and Amanda Jordan Day (April 16).

The Bulldogs continue their 11-game homestand this weekend when they play host to Furman for a conference weekend series. Saturday features a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. while Sunday's single game will also begin at 1 p.m.