March 10, 2012

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford (4-15, 0-2 SoCon) softball team fell in its first conference matchup of the season, as Georgia Southern (12-7, 2-0 SoCon) edged out the Bulldogs 2-1 and 6-3 in a Saturday double-header at Bulldog Field.

Alex Adams led the team offensively Saturday, going 3-6 at the plate, including a walk. Misha Aldridge earned two RBI, courtesy of a two-run homer in game two. Kayla Shaffer would go 2-4 on the day while scoring two runs.

Game One: Georgia Southern 2, Samford 1

In game one, Aldridge (2-8) took yet another tough loss on the mound, as the Bulldogs left the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh inning. Runs were at a premium, as the teams combined for 10 hits but left a combined seven runners on base. Sarah Purvis (6-3) earned the win for the Eagles, striking out 14 batters.

The Eagles got their first run on the board in the top of the first, as a two-out single up the middle with runners at the corners would bring home the runner at third. The next batter would be hit by a pitch, loading up the bases, but Aldridge pitched out of the jam, forcing a groundout to limit the damage to only one run. Georgia Southern's next run would come in the fourth inning, as another two-out single through the right side scored the runner at second.

The Bulldogs were looking to make a comeback in the final inning, as a single by Shelby Scott in the bottom of the seventh brought home Julianne Surane from second to make the score 2-1. The single extended Scott's hitting streak to seven games and made her the potential tying run at first. She would advance to second on an illegal pitch, but the final batter would strike out, giving the Bulldogs their fifth one-run loss of the season.

Game Two: Georgia Southern 6, Samford 3

Game two was a tight contest for most of the game, though a late surge by the Eagles would give them enough cushion in the final innings. Robyn Harmon (2-6) took the loss for Samford, while Brooke Red (4-0), coming in relief for the Eagles, earned the win.

Georgia Southern would again score in the top of the first, as a two-out single to left-center brought home the runner at second and gave the Eagles the early 1-0 lead.

Samford would take the lead in the bottom of the second, as Aldridge would blast a long two-run homer, her second of the season, to make the score 2-1 in Samford's favor. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Georgia Southern would bring in Red to pitch, taking over for starting pitcher Allie Miles. She would pitch out of the jam, forcing a groundout to strand three runners.

Georgia Southern would briefly tie the game up, 2-2, in the top of the fourth, but an infield single by Harmon in the bottom half of the inning brought home a run to give Samford the 3-2 lead.

The Eagles would score in each of the remaining three innings, adding one in both the fifth and sixth innings and then two more in the seventh.

Samford and Georgia Southern conclude their three-game series with a 1 p.m. game tomorrow at Bulldog Field.