April 3, 2011

Box Score

STATESBORO, Ga. ---- The Samford softball team edged out the win Sunday in a nine-inning thriller at Georgia Southern. The Bulldogs broke a 10-10 tie in the top of the ninth inning to win their fifth league game, 11-10.

"We showed a fight and heart today," Samford head coach Stephanie VanBrakle said. "We had opportunities to fold but we didn't. I'm proud of how KB (Kayla Burris) pitched this weekend, and our hitters definitely showed up today."

Samford (8-29, 5-7 SoCon) used a six-run third inning to jump on top, 6-0, early. Kayla Shaffer drove in the first run on a sacrifice bunt while reaching first base on a fielding error by the pitcher. Amanda Jordan then walked with the bases loaded to drive in Arica Dykes to put the Bulldogs up, 2-0, and Aaren Fisher followed with a bases-clearing triple to go ahead, 5-0. Nicole Bobrowski drove in the sixth run as she reached base on a fielding error by the second baseman.

Georgia Southern (19-21, 9-3 SoCon) cut the lead to one, plating five runs in the bottom of the inning. Marie Fogle drove the first run in on an RBI bunt single followed by Hanna Ennis with an RBI double to score Jorie Walker. Then Tabby Douberley drove in three runs on a double to deep center field before Samford pitcher Kayla Burris sat the last two batters down.

The Bulldogs took a 10-5 lead with a RBI single by Jordan in the fourth, a score by Madeline Baker on an error in the fifth, and a two-run single by Allison Reynolds in the sixth.

A five-run inning from the Eagles tied the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth. An RBI single by Alexa Lewis cut the lead to four and a two-out grand slam from Fogle tied the game at 10.

Both teams notched a hit in the seventh inning but could not produce any runs to eke out the win. Another scoreless eighth inning forced the game into a ninth inning, and the winning run was scored when Whitney Terry was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Dykes.

"I thought Bobrowski also came in and swung the bat well today," VanBrakle said. "Arica had a great day by creating situations to get on base and Shaffer was great for us as well."

Dykes led the Bulldogs with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate and three runs. Shaffer followed, going 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, and Brianna Chambers was 2-for-4 with a run. Jordan, Fisher, Bobrowski and Reynolds each had a hit for the Bulldogs. Jordan also notched two runs and two RBI while Bobrowski had a run and an RBI, Fisher had a run and three RBI, and Reynolds had two RBI.

Burris (5-12) turned in another incredible complete-game performance. Burris recorded nine strikeouts in nine innings of work, walked only one batter and gave up just four earned runs on 10 hits.

Fogle, Ennis and Walker led the Eagles with two hits each. Megen Smith, Douberley, Mackenzie Williams and Lewis each had a hit, while Fogle led in RBI with five followed by Douberley with three. Fogle, Lewis and Walker also scored two runs each.

Allie Miles started the game in the circle for the Eagles, giving up one earned run on two hits in 3.1 innings of work. She recorded six of GSU's 10 strikeouts and walked two batters. Brianna Streetmon pitched 3.1 innings of relief, giving up five earned runs on seven hits while striking out three batters and walking two. Smith (1-5) took the loss for GSU, giving up one earned run on four hits in 4.1 innings. She allowed two walks and recorded one strikeout.

Samford closes out its road swing Tuesday with a trip to Western Kentucky for a midweek doubleheader. The Bulldogs will then take a week off before returning home to play host to Elon, April 16-17.