Box Score STATESBORO, Ga. ---- Pitching and defense dominated a rainy game three in Statesboro Sunday afternoon, with a late RBI single by Georgia Southern making the difference in the 1-0 loss for Samford.
Samford (11-27, 3-12 SoCon) was neck-and-neck with the home team all day, thanks in large part to a great outing by
Shelby Scott (2-10) in the circle, throwing 6.0 innings with four hits, six strikeouts and only two walks. Scott also earned one of the Bulldogs' two hits on the day, with
Megan Dowdy earning the other.
Georgia Southern (23-23, 9-5 SoCon) would only get two runners in scoring position all day, with Tabby Douberley driving in the game's only run in the sixth inning. Brooke Red (7-4) threw the complete game shutout, striking out five en route to her seventh win of the season.
Samford looked to score first but was robbed of the chance, as Georgia Southern left fielder Alexa Lewis crashed into the wall in left field to take away a possible RBI double from
Abby Adams in the top of the second. Georgia Southern wouldn't earn their first hit of the game until the bottom of the third with two away and a great stretch by
Rachel Bickert at first off a throw by Adams for the final out of the inning kept it scoreless through three.
The pitcher's duel continued through 5 1/2 innings until Georgia Southern scored the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth. Kourtny Thomas legged out a one-out double, only their second runner in scoring position all game, and after a strikeout Douberley drove Thomas home with a single through the right side. A popup ended the inning but put the Bulldogs in a must-score situation in the top of the seventh.
With the heart of Samford's order due up in the seventh, Red and the Eagles held on as the Bulldogs were retired in order with Georgia Southern edging out the 1-0 pitcher's duel to complete the series sweep.
Next up, the Bulldogs will open the brand new Samford Softball Stadium on campus with a midweek game against Mississippi State on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. CT.
