April 22, 2011

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. ---- The Samford softball team's seventh inning comeback in game two was not enough to avoid the sweep by Appalachian State in Friday's Southern Conference doubleheader in Boone, N.C. The Bulldogs were shut out in game one, 9-0, but fought to stay in the second game, falling 8-4.

Appalachian State only allowed one Samford hit in game one. That hit came from Amanda Jordan as she led off the second inning with a double to right-center field. Alex Adams laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Jordan to third but the Mountaineers retired Aaren Fisher with a pop-up foul out and Lakan Smith struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Mountaineers scored their first run in the second inning on a two-out bases-loaded single by Sarah Rappe to drive in Michelle Lighton. They added three more runs in the third inning when Allie Cashion hit a double to set up a scoring opportunity for Lighton. Lighton then doubled to drive in Cashion and after Hannah Dow flied out for the second out of the inning, McKenzie Phillips hit a bomb to left-center field to put ASU up, 4-0.

After a quiet fourth inning, Rappe hit a two-RBI double and Boyd hit a walk-off three-run home run in the fifth inning to give the Mountaineers the 9-0 win.

Kayla Burris (8-13) took the loss giving up four earned runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings of work. She also struck out two batters.

Rappe led the Mountaineers, going 3-for-3, followed by Cashion and Lighton, each going 2-for-3 at the plate. Rappe had three RBI and a run while Cashion also scored two runs and Lighton scored three and had an RBI. Five other Mountaineer players each accounted for one of ASU's 12 hits.

Caitlin Wainwright (5-4) earned the win in the circle, going five innings and giving up only one hit. She also struck out four batters.

In game two, ASU jumped on top 2-0 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run by Meghan Smith, but the Bulldogs answered back in the top of the second to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Alex Adams led off with a single through the right side and then Madeline Baker came in to pinch run. Baker advanced on a pass ball and then Lakan Smith reached first base on an error by the catcher while Baker scored on the throw.

The Mountaineers went ahead, 5-1, in the third when Cashion hit an RBI double to left field. Lighton then hit a two-run home run put ASU up by four.

After a scoreless fourth inning by both teams, the Mountaineers added two more runs with back-to-back home runs by Cashion and Lighton. They scored their eighth run in the bottom of the sixth after Boyd tripled with one out and then scored on a wild pitch.

Samford cut the lead to 8-4 in the top of the seventh inning when Robyn Harmon hit a two-run home run with two outs followed by a home run from Jordan to right field. However, Smith grounded out for the last out of the game, and ASU walked away with the 8-4 win.

Harmon led the Bulldogs in game two, going 2-for-2 at the plate with one run and two RBI. She also took the loss in the circle, giving up five earned runs on seven hits in three innings of work.

Chambers, Jordan, Adams and Fisher each had a hit for Samford while Jordan and Smith accounted for two of the Bulldogs' RBI. Nicole Bobrowski pitched the final three innings of the game, giving up three earned runs on six hits.

Megan Reimbielak and Cashion led the Mountaineers in the second game, each going 3-for-4. Reimbielak scored two runs while Cashion scored two and had two RBI. Lighton went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI while Morgan Price when 2-for-3, Rappe went 1-for-3 and Boyd and Smith each were 1-for-4.

Hannah Dow (10-4) earned the win, giving up just one earned run on six hits in 6.2 innings of work. She struck out two batters and allowed two walks. Wainright pitched the final out of the game.

The Bulldogs will try to avoid the sweep Saturday in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.