March 7, 2012

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ---- The No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide were looking for an easy victory Wednesday against Samford, but timely Bulldog hitting made the game competitive, as Samford ultimately fell, 7-3. Samford is only the sixth team this season to score at least three runs against Alabama.

Samford (4-13) put together six hits for the game, as Madison Dickey and Shelby Scott led the way with two hits each. Alabama (18-0) starting pitcher Leslie Jury (6-0) pitched 6.0 innings, throwing seven strikeouts en route to her sixth win. Misha Aldridge earned the start on the mound for Samford, as her record falls to 2-7.

The Crimson Tide took the early lead in the bottom of the first, as Cassie Reilly-Boccia hit a two-run homer. The Bulldogs would look to threaten in the top of the second, with consecutive one-out singles by Dickey and Scott would put two on. The Crimson Tide pitched out of the jam however, as they forced an inning-ending double play.

Alabama added a third run in the bottom of the third inning, as a leadoff triple was followed by a double to bring the runner home from third. The Bulldogs fielded an impressive double play to end the inning, as a line drive caromed off the glove of Aldridge right into the mitt of Robyn Harmon at second, who then shoveled the ball to Abby Adams covering second base to tag up the runner.

Alabama would score four more in the bottom of the fourth, going up 7-0. The Bulldogs would avoid the five-inning run rule loss in the bottom of the fifth, as consecutive ground balls stranded the potential winning run at third.

With two out in the top of the sixth, consecutive two-out hits and a walk to Robyn Harmon would load the bases for Dickey. She would knock a ball through the right side under the glove of a diving first baseman, plating one to put the Bulldogs on the board and prevent the shutout. Scott followed with another single just out of reach of the shortstop ranging to her left, adding two more runs to bring Samford within four, down 7-3.

In the top of the seventh, the Crimson Tide brought in a new pitcher, Amanda Locke, who closed out the game for Alabama to secure the 7-3 victory.

Next up, the Bulldogs open the conference slate, hosting Georgia Southern for a three-game series. The action kicks off with a double-header on Saturday, March 10 beginning at 1 p.m., with the third game on Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m.