BOX SCORE: GAME ONE (PDF)
BOX SCORE: GAME TWO (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford softball team opened up its 2021 season at the Samford Softball Field with a doubleheader against No. 13 Kentucky. The Wildcats earned a 4-0 win in the first game and snagged a 15-3 victory in game two over the Bulldogs.
 
THE BASICS
 
GAME 1
Final: Samford 0 | Kentucky 4
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 12 | 1:01 p.m.
Location: Samford Softball Field
Records: Samford (0-1) | Kentucky (1-0)
Series: Kentucky leads the series 2-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GM1

• Kentucky scored in the first inning after Kayla Kowalik tripled to right field; later scoring on a wild pitch.
• The Wildcats followed up with their second run of the night in the third inning. Renee Abernathy doubled into center field, driving in her fellow teammate Erin Coffel.
• Kentucky would add on a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Miranda Stoddard and Erin Coffel would be the ones to cross home plate for the Wildcats.
• The Bulldogs would hold off Kentucky in the final two innings for a final score of 4-0.

 
GAME 2
Final: Samford | Kentucky
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 12 | 3:47 p.m.
Location: Samford Softball Field
Records: Samford (0-2) | Kentucky (2-0)
Series: Kentucky leads the series 3-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GM2

• The Wildcats carried over their momentum from the first game into the second; scoring eight runs in the first inning.
• Kentucky would then add on four more runs in the top of the second after Lauren Johnson, Mallory Peyton, Vanessa Nesby, and Autumn Humes scored for the Wildcats.
• Samford would keep Kentucky at bay in the third inning, while the Bulldogs added on three runs of their own. Timberlyn Shurbutt doubled to left field to drive in Kathryne Shoop to get the Bulldogs on the board. O'Neil Roberson would then earn her one RBI of the night, batting in Mekhi Mayfield. This would be followed by a Kentucky error which led to Timberlyn Shurbutt scoring on the play.  
• The Wildcats would wrap up game two in five innings with two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.

 
IN THE CIRCLE:

• In game one, Abby Swaney (0-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs. The red-shirt freshman pitched 4.0 innings and earned one strikeout while giving up three runs on five hits.
• Emily Barnett would close out the game for Samford at the mound with three strikeouts. She faced 12 at bats and gave up one run on three hits.
• Kentucky's Autumn Humes (1-0) would pitch all 7.0 innings for the Wildcats, earning her first win of the season with seven strikeouts. She faced 24 at bats and gave up zero runs on four hits.
• In game two, McKenna Gillespie (0-1) took the loss and pitched two complete innings for the Bulldogs. She faced 11 at bats while giving up four runs on six hits.
• Grace Baalman (1-0) earned the win for Kentucky after 3.0 innings pitched, which included one strikeout and three runs on two hits.

 

NOTABLES:

• Timberlyn Shurbutt led Samford in hits with three on the night, while O'Neil Roberson led the Bulldogs defensively with a total of 15 putouts.
• Shurbutt and Roberson also earned one RBI each to start off the season.

 
UP NEXT:

• Samford and Kentucky will close out their weekend series with a single game Saturday, Feb. 13. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Samford Softball Field.