Feb. 24, 2012
Full Release Notes 
SOFTBALL SET TO HOST SAMFORD SCRAMBLE
Samford will serve as host for the Samford Scramble, as three teams will square off over six games on Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26. Samford will welcome the Eastern Illinois Panthers and the Mercer Bears to Bulldog Field.
OPPONENT SCOUTING REPORT
Eastern Illinois - 2-1 - Ohio Valley Conference - The matchup against the Panthers is a throwback of sorts, as Eastern Illinois was a conference foe when Samford was in the OVC. This season, they are 2-1 after their opening weekend at the Georgia State Tournament, where they finished second. They earned a 3-0 shutout win over IUPUI and a 5-4 win over Chattanooga, but fell 7-0 to Georgia State. Outfielder Morgan Biel leads the team in hitting, after going 5-10 at the plate with two runs scored. Their leading pitcher is Stephanie Maday, who is 2-0 after pitching two complete games with only four earned runs allowed.
Mercer - 2-7 - Atlantic Sun Conference - Afer going 0-6 to start the season, the Bears bounced back a bit, going 2-1 in their last three games with two run-rule victories over Western Carolina. Their offense is led by outfielder McKenzie Woody, hitting .419 (13-31) out of the leadoff spot with five stolen bases. The pitching staff is led by Jessica Holsinger, who is 1-1 in four appearances with a 3.20 ERA.
LAST TIME OUT: COMEBACK STOPPED SHORT AGAINST ULM
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.
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.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
Freshman first baseman Rachel Bickert has proved her offensive prowess early in her Samford career, as she has earned at least one hit in every game so far this season. Her first came as a pinch hitter in the opening game against South Dakota and she has started every game since. Her best performance at the plate came against Mississippi State, where she was a perfect 3-3 with two doubles and an RBI. She is tied for the team lead in hits (10) and is batting .455 with five RBI and 12 total bases.
GREAT SCOTT!
Freshman Shelby Scott has worked all fall to rehab from an injury and has become a very strong contributor for the team in her five games played this season, including three starts. She currently leads the team with a .500 batting average (4-8) and has an .875 slugging percentage, thanks to a two-run home run in the game against ULM. She has gone 3-5 over the past two games with two RBI and three runs scored.
WEATHER OUTLOOK: SATURDAY, FEB. 25
Temperature in the low 50s
10 mph winds
High: 57
Mostly Sunny, Precipitation: 0%
WEATHER OUTLOOK: SUNDAY, FEB. 26
Temperature in the high 50s
5 mph winds
High: 59
Mostly Sunny, Precipitation: 0%
UP NEXT
Samford starts a six-game road streak, playing at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Feb. 29 before heading to Starkville, Miss., for four games at the Mississippi State Tournament over the weekend.
