March 22, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its midweek doubleheader to UAB Tuesday evening. The Blazers used a two-run home run to break a tie and win the first game before charging to an 11-2 win over the Bulldogs in game two.

The doubleheader served as makeup games for both teams who each had previous games washed out earlier this month.

In game one, the Blazers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Sallie Van Kirk hit an RBI double to left field. The Bulldogs then tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Amanda Jordan hit a home run over the center field wall to lead off the inning. The homer was Jordan's fifth of the year and it was her third lead-off bomb in three days.

Both teams went quietly in the sixth inning but UAB scored two runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Catherine Douglass to give the Blazers the 3-1 win.

Jordan and Lakan Smith each went 1-for-2 against the Blazers in game one while Jordan scored a run and had an RBI. Robyn Harmon and Whitney Terry also each went 1-for-3. Kayla Burris (3-10) took the loss and pitched a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out three batters and allowing two walks.

Caley Walden and Douglass led the Blazers, each going 2-for-4 with a run. Mandy Lowman and Lauren Webster also were 1-for-2 at the plate. Leigh Streetman (6-3) earned the win and pitched a complete game, giving up just one earned run on four hits while striking out three batters and walking two.

In game two, Samford took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jordan hit an RBI single to score Harmon from second base. However, the Blazers answered back and plated three runs in the top of the second inning with a three-run home run by Kristen McGrath.

Samford added another run in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by Aaren Fisher to score Terry from third, but UAB would score in each of the remaining innings to seal the win. RBI singles in the fourth by Walden and the fifth by Mitchell gave the Blazers a 5-2 lead going into the sixth inning. UAB scored four runs in the top of the sixth, with two RBI singles while two runs scored on an error. In the top of the seventh, a fielder's choice brought in the Blazers' 10th run and an RBI double by Donna Plath brought in the final run. UAB took game two, 11-2.

Six Samford players had a hit in game two including Terry, Smith, Jordan, Fisher, Brianna Chambers, Kayla Shaffer and Allison Reynolds. Emily Waters (0-2) started for the Bulldogs in the circle and took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits in two innings of work. Nicole Bobrowski come on in relief and gave up one earned run on nine hits in five innings of work. Waters and Bobrowski each recorded a strikeout while Bobrowski allowed three walks.

Lowman led the Blazers in game two, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. McGrath was 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI while Walden was 3-for-5 and Douglass was 2-for-5 with two runs. Mitchell also went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Erica Sisson was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Alisha Smith (5-1) started for the Blazers and earned the win, giving up one earned run on two hits in 2.1 innings of work. She also recorded five strikeouts. Lauren Webster pitched the final 4.2 innings of the game, giving up just five hits and striking out six batters.

The Bulldogs are back in action this weekend as they continue their two week homestand. Samford will host Western Carolina in a weekend Southern Conference series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game will begin at 1 p.m. CT.