Feb. 22, 2012

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford softball team suffered another heartbreaking loss Wednesday, coming within one run in the seventh inning but ultimately falling, 7-6, to ULM.

Samford (3-5) earned nine hits, but failed to capitalize on the opportunities, leaving 11 runners on base. ULM (5-5) held the slight edge in hits with 12 and made the most of four Samford errors. Haylie Wilson earned the win on the mound (5.0 IP, 5H, 4ER), moving to 2-1 on the season while Robyn Harmon (5.0 IP, 9H, 4ER) suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 2-1.

Madison Dickey, Abby Adams and Shelby Scott each had two hits, with Scott earning two RBI on a two-run homer. Six of Samford's nine starters put a number in the hit column. Rachel Bickert went 1-3 at the plate, and has now earned at least one hit in every game so far this season. It is Samford's third one-run loss this season, as their five losses only come from a combined difference of nine runs.

With one runner on first base in the top of the first inning, the Samford defense allowed the first Warhawk run to cross the plate, committing an error at the putout attempt at first base and then rushing a throw to third, which rolled past allowing the runner to come home and moving the batter to third base. Harmon walked the next batter and then ULM pulled off a double-steal, bringing another run home and putting a runner on second. The runner advanced to third on a groundout and was brought home by a one-out single to right field.

The Samford offense didn't waste any time coming back, evening the game at 3-3 by the end of the second inning. In the bottom of the first, Alex Adams would hit an RBI single with the bases loaded to bring in Bickert from third. Bickert would find herself at the plate with the bases loaded in the second and promptly blasted a single up the middle to bring home Scott. Abby Adams followed with a single to the same spot, bringing in Arica Dykes as the tying run. The three-run outburst would end the day for ULM starting pitcher Samantha Hamby after only 2.0 innings pitched.

The teams split runs in the third inning, as ULM would hit a solo home run in the top half and Madison Dickey would hit an RBI single in the bottom half.

After a scoreless fourth inning, ULM would tack on two in the fifth. An RBI single brought home the first run and put runners at second and third with one out. The ensuing batter would line out to Harmon on the mound, but the quick turnaround pickoff attempt at the runner on second would go wide, allowing the runner at third to go home, making the score 6-4 Warhawks. Harmon would exit the game after 5.0 innings pitched, allowing nine hits and four earned runs.

The Warhawks would further extend the lead in the top of the sixth. After a wild pitch moved runners over to second and third, ULM would drop a bunt and the runner at third would slide home just under the tag attempt, plating another run and putting runners on the corners with one out. ULM failed to get any more runs across, making the score 7-4 after five-and-a-half innings.

Samford entered the bottom of the seventh with a three-run deficit and refused to go down quietly. Misha Aldridge was walked with one out and the speedy Julianne Surane came in to pinch run for her. Surane's speed was not needed however, as Scott blasted a two-run homer, the first of her career, landing next to the left-field scoreboard to bring the Bulldogs within one late. Samford put the tying run on base but could not get her past first, as the game ended in another tough one-run loss.

Samford continues the season hosting the Samford Scramble this weekend, with two days of games beginning on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Bulldogs play Eastern Illinois (11 a.m.) and Mercer (1:15 p.m.) on Saturday and play the Panthers (2:15 p.m.) and the Black Bears (4:30 p.m.) again on Sunday the 26th.