Feb. 11, 2012

Samford vs. South Dakota Box Score
Samford vs. Iona Box Score

DELAND, Fla. ---- The Samford softball squad played in two very contrasting games on Saturday, winning a high-scoring 8-7 decision against South Dakota in extra innings and falling 1-0 to Iona in a pitcher's duel. The Bulldogs are now 2-1 on the season, while South Dakota falls to 0-3 and Iona gets their first win of the season.

Game One - Samford 8, South Dakota 7 (8 innings)

If early game struggles were a concern against South Dakota on Friday, the Bulldogs certainly made up for it Saturday, bursting out an early 7-3 lead, including a six-run second inning. The Coyotes didn't let it faze them however, as they fought back to score four in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Madeline Baker scored off a wild pitch in the top of the eighth and starting pitcher Robyn Harmon stranded a runner at third in the bottom half to secure the 8-7 win.

"I'm proud of the way our team battled," said Head Coach Mandy Burford. "Give credit to South Dakota, they didn't quit and they kept battling and finally got to Robyn in the seventh. Like yesterday, our team had the will to win and we executed our short game really well in the eighth inning, bunting Madeline over from second."

The offense was very balanced Saturday, as eight of the nine Bulldogs in the starting lineup earned a hit. Harmon and Nicole Bobrowski went a combined 4-9, earning two RBI each. On the mound, Harmon pitched the full eight innings to earn the win, giving up six earned runs and ten hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

In the top of the first, it was Samford who struck first, with Abby Adams making her first career hit count, blasting an RBI double down the right field line to bring Kayla Shaffer home from second. The Coyotes answered in the bottom half of the inning though, as a wild pitch with two runners in scoring position brought Lindsey Boyd in from third.

The Samford offense had a huge second inning, as they batted around the whole order, manufacturing six runs with four hits and smart base-running to take advantage of walks. With two outs in the inning, Shaffer got the scoring run started, hitting an RBI double in the left field gap bringing Casey Clark home and advancing Madison Dickey to third. With runners at the corners, Harmon knocked a single back up the middle, advancing to second on a failed putout at home which allowed both runs to score. With Harmon at second, South Dakota walked two consecutive batters to load the bases up for Bobrowski. South Dakota brought in a new pitcher, Paige Policky, to try and pitch them out of the jam. Bobrowski had other ideas, as she put a single back up the middle, scoring two and advancing to second to put two runners in scoring position. Rachel Bickert, who led off the inning with a walk, followed with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Adams from third and moving Bobrowski to second. A strikeout ended the scoring surge, but the Bulldogs found themselves up 7-1 early.

South Dakota would put a dent in the lead throughout the middle portions of the game, scoring one run in both the third and fifth innings. In the third, a leadoff double followed by a single put runners at the corners. After a lineout, Katie Dinning reached on a fielder's choice at first, with the runner at second out but the runner at third crossing home for the run.

In the fifth, the Coyotes would take advantage of a Samford error, as Katelyn Wudel scored from third with the bases loaded and one out off an errant throw from second base. On the mound, Harmon limited the damage, forcing the next batter to ground into a double play and end the scoring threat.

The South Dakota offense came alive with the back against the wall, putting together a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. With two outs, Dinning doubled to the right field gap, advancing the runner at first all the way to third. With two runners in scoring position, Alexa Rudeen added her own 2RBI double and Morgan Hancock followed with a two-run homer, clearing the bases and tying the game up at 7-7.

In the top of the eighth, Adams sacrificed Baker over, which allowed Baker to come home for what would be the game-winning run off a wild pitch to Bobrowski. South Dakota followed the same game plan in the bottom half, sacrificing their runner over to third, but Harmon shut the batters down with back-to-back ground outs ending the game in Samford's favor.

Game Two - Samford 0, Iona 1

Samford suffered its first loss of the young season in a pitcher's duel against Iona. Each team only produced four hits, with the difference being a solo home run in the top of the first inning for Iona. Aldridge pitched a solid game, going the full seven innings but is still credited with the tough loss on her record.

"We left nine runners on base and that's way too many," said Burford. "We didn't have a solid game plan for their pitching. Misha was outstanding on the mound, and the solo home run came off a changeup where she was a little off. On defense, Abby Adams made some great plays at shortstop so it's nice to see her step up in that role."

With two outs in the top of the first, Iona's Eileen McCann launched a solo home run to center field, which ultimately proved to be the difference in final score. It was their only run and the only extra-base hit for either team.

In the third inning, Samford would put a runner in scoring position with Caroline Seay bunting over Rachel Bickert from first to put her at second with only one out. Iona pitcher Sarah Jackson hit her spots however, as consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, a leadoff walk and two throwing errors would load the bases for Rachel Bickert with two out, but more solid pitching from Jackson would force a strikeout and leave three stranded for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs looked to tie, if not earn the walk-off, in the seventh, as Dickey and Shaffer found themselves on first and second with two out. A pop-up in foul territory to the third baseman ended the Bulldogs' hope of a comeback however, securing the small-margin win for the Gaels.

Samford plays its fifth and final game of the weekend on Sunday, as they face off against Iona at 11 a.m.