May 9, 2012

Box Score

BOONE, N.C. ---- The Bulldogs endured a long rain delay and a late surge by Furman, but Samford ultimately ended up victorious in the first game of the SoCon Tournament as they earned a 3-2 victory over the Paladins.

The Samford (14-40, 6-18 SoCon) offense was productive, tallying nine hits. Casey Clark went 2-4 with a run scored, while Misha Aldridge earned a pair of hits as well. Madison Dickey drove in all three of the Bulldogs' runs with a three-run homer. Robyn Harmon (5-10) earned the win in the circle, pitching 6.1 innings with Aldridge entering to earn the final two outs for her third save of the season. Furman (17-35, 6-18 SoCon) was led offensively by Jessie Homesley, going 2-3, with Hannah Bradley (5-12) earning the loss pitching a complete game.

After half an inning of play, lightning and heavy rain forced a delay of over five hours before play resumed.

In the top of the second, Clark led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed over the second by Rachel Bickert. Arica Dykes walked to put two on with one out Dickey in the leadoff spot, who launched a long opposite field home run to left center, putting Samford up 3-0.

Harmon pitched a gem of a game, allowing only five hits through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Furman put two on base and, with the potential tying run at the plate, Aldridge entered the game looking for her third save of the season. The following batter doubled to center field, plating two to make the score 3-2. Samford intentionally walked the next batter, putting two on with two out. Aldridge came through in the clutch as a groundball to second base ended the inning, giving Samford the 3-2 win.

Samford will face off against Georgia Southern later tonight.