April 29, 2012

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The drama from Saturday's matches continued into Sunday's rubber match, as Samford and Appalachian State fought back and forth the whole game until Samford scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth and then sat down the Mountaineers 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to secure the 5-4 win and take the series.

Samford (13-37, 6-15 SoCon) out-hit the visitors, 9-7, with Madison Dickey going 3-4 at the plate including a three-run homer. Robyn Harmon (4-8) earned the win in the circle, throwing 107 pitches over seven innings. Caitlin Wainright (6-9) came in relief after two innings for the Mountaineers and took the loss, while their offense was led by Meghan Smith, going 2-3 with two RBI on a two-run homer.

The teams split runs in the first inning, with Appalachian State moving ahead 1-0 in the top half courtesy of a fielding error after a steal attempt to third base. Alex Adams tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom half with a two-out solo homer to left center, her second long ball of the weekend.

Another long ball put the Bulldogs ahead 4-1 in the bottom of the second as Dickey launched one to straightaway center with two on base, tying her for the team lead this season with six homers. Appalachian State would chip away at the lead and eventually tie it, scoring three runs over the next two innings. The Mountaineers brought two home in the top of the third with a two-run homer that just stayed fair over the left field pole, making the score 4-3. They tied it up at 4-4 in the top of the fourth with a two-out RBI single.

Fielding errors cost Appalachian State the lead in game two yesterday and a key error in the bottom of the sixth would bring home the eventual game-winning run for Samford on Sunday. With runners at first and second and one out, the Mountaineer catcher would make a wide throw into right field on a pickoff attempt at first, allowing Madeline Baker to round third and put the Bulldogs ahead 5-4. Harmon stayed in to pitch in the top of the seventh, looking to close out Appalachian State and earn the complete game win. She sat the Mountaineers down 1-2-3 as a groundout, flyout and a lineout ended the game with the Bulldogs coming out victorious.

The Bulldogs conclude the regular season next weekend with a three-game series at Western Carolina, beginning with a double header on Saturday, May 5 at noon CT.