March 18, 2012

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. ---- It was a very long day at Patriots Point for the Bulldogs, as Samford fell to the College of Charleston, 6-2. The Bulldogs held the lead in the middle of the third before the teams were forced to take a five-hour delay due to inclement weather. After the break, the Cougars had one big inning which ultimately gave them the win.

Samford (5-20, 0-6 SoCon) was led at the plate by Madison Dickey, going 3-4 including a double, her second of the weekend. The College of Charleston (14-11, 3-3 SoCon) was led offensively by catcher Mackenzie Maples, who was a perfect 3-3 on the day. Shelby Scott took the loss for Samford in the circle, falling to 0-2 this season while Stephanie Saylors earned the win for the Cougars, improving to 8-6.

The Bulldogs didn't waste any time getting on the board, as they plated one in the top of the first. Madison Dickey hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alex Adams reached on an infield single, scoring Dickey to put Samford up 1-0 in the first.

With two runners in scoring position and one out in the bottom of the first, the Cougars blasted a long ball to center field looking to clear the bases. Kayla Shaffer made a leaping grab on the warning track and Abby Adams was in great position for the relay, limiting them to only one run on the sacrifice fly.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the top of the third with one out and Adams would ground out to the shortstop but would earn the RBI as Robyn Harmon came home from third to give the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead.

In the middle of the third inning, lightning forced the teams off the field as they waited for nearly five hours before play resumed.

The offenses didn't come out of the delay firing, as neither team scored until the bottom of the sixth, when the College of Charleston laid down a squeeze bunt to bring home the runner from third and tie the game at 2-2. The next batter did the same and the charging runner from third plowed into Dickey covering home as the ball popped free, giving the Cougars the 3-2 edge. The next batter wasn't playing small ball, as she hit a long home run into center field, bringing in three more runs to make the score 6-2. Misha Aldridge came in relief for Shelby Scott in the circle, getting the final two outs to end the inning.

The Bulldogs managed to grab a hit in the top of the seventh, but could not overcome the deficit as the game ended in a heartbreaking 6-2 loss nearly seven hours after the game began.

Samford returns home briefly for a Tuesday matchup against Memphis at 5 p.m. before hitting the road for a Thursday game at Kennesaw State and a three-game weekend series at Elon, beginning Saturday, March 24.