March 8, 2011

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team dropped its doubleheader at Jacksonville State Tuesday evening before the rains washed out the rest of the evening. Samford fell in the first game, 9-0, and in the second game, 6-0. The second game was called at the fifth inning stretch after the rain prevented the teams from completing the full game.

In the first game, Jacksonville State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with a three-run home run by Amanda Crow. The Gamecocks added two more in the bottom of sixth with a bases-loaded deep single by pinch-hitter Katie Matchen to drive in Kristin Graham and Crow and make it a 5-0 game. Tess Echols then singled to drive in Sallie Beth Burch, and Krystal Ruth followed with a three-run home run to extend the lead to 9-0 and end the game.

Alex Adams had the only hit for the Bulldogs in game one. Robyn Harmon (0-4) pitched 5.2 innings, giving up nine runs on nine hits. She struck out two batters and allowed two walks.

Graham led the Gamecocks with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate with two runs. Crow went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI while five other JSU players also each recorded a hit. Ashley Eliasson (1-1) earned the win for the Gamecocks. Eliasson gave up just one hit in five innings and allowed two walks. Savanna Hennings pitched the final inning for JSU, recording two strikeouts.

In game two, a two-run home run by Graham put the Gamecocks up, 2-0, early in the first inning. A solo home run by Kaycee Crow to lead off the second inning extended the JSU lead to 3-0. Then, in the third inning, the Gamecocks plated three more runs with an RBI single by Amanda Crow and a two-run triple by Kaycee Crow.

In the midst of rain, the Bulldogs got runners on the corners in the top of the fifth inning to set up a scoring opportunity, but a two-out ground out by Allison Reynolds ended the inning. The teams tried to play the bottom of the fifth inning but the rain washed out the rest of the game, and JSU walked away with the 6-0 win.

Tiffiny Harbin, Kristin Graham, and Hilary Phillips combined for a five-inning no-hitter. Harbin earned the win, improving her overall record to 5-4. She recorded four strikeouts for the Gamecocks. Graham and Kaycee Crow went 2-for-2 at the plate while Amanda Crow went 2-for-3. Amanda Crow led the Gamecocks with three RBI while Graham also had two RBI.

Kayla Burris (2-7) took the loss for Samford, giving up six runs on seven hits in four innings of work. She struck out two batters and walked three.

The Bulldogs are back in action Thursday as they kick off a five game road swing, starting at Mercer. Samford will play a doubleheader with the Bears starting at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs will then open the Southern Conference season at Chattanooga on Saturday.