April 30, 2011

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. ---- The Samford softball team dropped the first two game of its series with Southern Conference foe UNC Greensboro Saturday, 12-4 and 4-1. The Bulldogs will look to avoid the series sweep Sunday at 12 p.m. CT as the Bulldogs and Spartans meet up once more for a single game in Greensboro, N.C.

In the first game, UNCG (23-27, 9-11 SoCon) took a quick 6-0 lead, putting up two runs in the first inning and four in the second. After holding the Bulldogs to just one hit in the top of the first inning, the Spartans plated two runs on a two-RBI double by Jordan Jewett to score Kaitlin Merkt and Alex Emeterio.

Samford (11-36, 7-13 SoCon) then stared a scoring opportunity in the face in the top of the second inning after Nicole Bobrowski singled followed by a double from Allison Reynolds with two outs. However, a pop-up from Arica Dykes would leave two Bulldogs stranded and end the inning.

Heather Robb homered to lead off the bottom of the second followed by an RBI single by Aisha Figueroa and a two-RBI single by Merkt to extend the Spartan lead to 6-0.

Samford finally got on the board in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with no outs. Amanda Jordan stepped up to the plate and reached on a fielder's choice while Kayla Shaffer got thrown out at home, loading the bases again but now with one out. Alex Adams fouled out for the second out of the inning but Lakan Smith followed with a single to score Brianna Chambers, and the runners advanced while Robyn Harmon scored on the throw. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 6-2. Spartan pitcher Cory Mattson loaded the bases again as she hit Bobrowski with a pitch. She then walked Reynolds to drive in Jordan before Terry popped up to end the inning.

The Bulldogs added on more run in the top of the fourth inning when Chambers homered to right-center field with one out. Samford had another chance to score more runs as Harmon and Jordan got on base and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and a stolen base. However, with two outs, Adams reached first base on a fielder's choice and Harmon was tagged out on a bang-bang play at home for the last out of the inning.

The Spartans went down in order in the third and fourth innings but after blanking Samford in the top of the fifth, UNCG put five more runs up on the board. Katelyn Bedwell sparked the rally with an RBI triple to score Merkt and then Kayla Hensley grounded out to drive in Bedwell after Robb walked and stole second. The Spartans then got runners on the corners when Katie Stripling was hit by a pitch, and April Langley rattled off a three-run homer to clear the bases. Figueroa popped up to end the inning but not before UNCG took an 11-4 lead.

Samford got a runner on base in the top of the sixth when Jordan walked with two outs but Adams struck out swinging to end the inning. UNCG led off the sixth inning with a double by Emeterio, then Emily Waters came in to pitch for Harmon and she walked Merkt. Jewett then stepped up to the plate and hit a walk-off double to score Emeterio. UNCG won game one, 12-4.

Chambers led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Harmon also was 2-for-4 with a run while Smith was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Reynolds was 1-for-1 with an RBI while Bobrowski went 1-for-2 and Jordan went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Harmon (1-11) pitched five complete innings, giving up 12 earned runs on 11 hits. Waters came on in relief and gave up a hit and allowed a walk.

Seven Spartans had at least one hit and one RBI for UNCG. Merkt led the pack, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI followed by Emererio who went 2-for-3 with three runs and Jewett who went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Mattson (12-12) earned the win, giving up four earned runs on nine hits in four innings of work. She recorded one strikeout and allowed two walks. Raeanne Hanks pitched the final two innings, striking out four batters and walking two.

In the second game, both teams went scoreless through three innings although there were plenty of opportunities to score. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Bobrowski hit her third home run of the year down the left field line.

However, UNCG jumped on top in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on two RBI singles. The third run was scored when Jewett hit a double up the middle and Merkt scored on the throw. The Spartans had two more chances to score but Samford held the runners in place, and UNCG left two runners on when Stripling flied out to end the inning.

The Bulldogs went scoreless again in the top of the sixth, even after Jordan reached first base on a passed ball. The Spartans then added another run in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Figueroa to deep right field. Samford kept UNCG from scoring again in the inning but the Spartans blanked the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh and walked away with a 4-1 win.

Bobrowski led the Bulldogs, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Chambers was 2-for-3 and Jordan was 1-for-3. Bobrowski (2-9) also took the loss in the circle, pitching a complete game. She gave up four earned runs on 13 hits, struck out one batter and walked two.

Emeterio led the Spartans, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Figueroa was 3-for-4 with two runs while Merkt went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Robb was 2-for-3 while Jewett went 1-for-4 and Langley went 1-for-4 with a run.

Josie Felix started the game in the circle for the Spartans, giving up one earned run on four hits in four innings of work. She struck out one batter and walked two. Hanks (6-3) earned the win, giving up just one hit and striking out four batters in three innings of work.