April 15, 2012

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. ---- The Samford softball squad dropped a hard-fought decision in Sunday's rubber match versus Furman, as a late home run proved the difference in the 4-2 decision.

Samford (10-31, 4-11 SoCon) took the early lead and also tied the game late, but a Furman (17-28, 6-12 SoCon) home run in the bottom of the sixth ultimately gave the Paladins the win. Samford out-hit Furman, 7-6, with seven different Bulldogs earning a hit. Robyn Harmon and Alex Adams, batting fourth and fifth, drove in both of Samford's runs. Julianne Surane went 1-3 at the plate, extending her hitting streak to eight games. Misha Aldridge (5-15), who entered the game in the bottom of the third, took the loss for Samford, though all four runs allowed were unearned. Hannah Bradley (5-9) earned the win for Furman while they were led at the plate by Hannah Pace, who went 2-3, including the game-winning home run.

Madison Dickey and Alex Adams earned back-to-back singles in the top of the first with one out and Harmon followed that with a third single, scoring Samford's first run of the game to go up 1-0. Abby Adams reached on a fielder's choice the next at bat and the Bulldogs attempted a double steal with runners at the corners but were caught doing so to end the inning.

Furman earned their first hits in the bottom of the third, eventually setting up with runners at the corners and one out. They attempted a double steal and the runner made it to second, but the Bulldogs threw out the runner trying to score. After two walks loaded the bases, Aldridge entered the game as a relief pitcher and got them out of the jam, as a groundout to Rachel Bickert at third ended the inning with the Bulldogs still out in front, 1-0.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, a fielding error on a groundout put two runners on base and the Paladins took advantage of the extended inning, scoring two runs to take the lead. The next batter fought through a 13-pitch at bat, eventually knocking a single through the right side to tie the game and the Paladins followed that with another single into shallow left field, taking the 2-1 lead.

With two on and two out in the top of the sixth, Abby Adams came through with a clutch single to center field, scoring Dickey from second to tie the game at 2-2. In the bottom half of the inning, a big swing by Hannah Pace put the ball over the fence, scoring two on the home run to give the Paladins the late 4-2 lead. Two groundouts and a strikeout ended the game for the Bulldogs, as Furman earned the hard-fought 4-2 victory.

Next up, Samford travels to Montgomery, Ala., for a midweek matchup against Alabama State (12-27) on Wednesday, April 18 at 5 p.m. CT.