'Dogs' Come-From-Behind Effort Falls Short Against Morehead State, 2-1 :: Samford leaves the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning

March 21, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team fell short in a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games Friday as the Bulldogs were defeated by the Morehead State Eagles 2-1 and 4-3 in a doubleheader held at Bulldog Field.

"I thought that we certainly pitched well enough to win both games," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "I was proud of (Amanda) Barrs and Margaret (Carter). They were able to get ground ball after ground ball. We just weren't able to make some plays when we needed to. It seems as if whenever we make an error, it's in a crucial situation."

With Friday's losses, Samford (10-15, 2-3 OVC) dropped to 2-8 when playing at home this season. Both of the Bulldogs' home victories occurred last week against OVC-rival Austin Peay.

Samford's two-game winning streak was also snapped by Morehead State (16-3, 2-1 OVC) on Friday. The Eagles own the best overall record in the conference and have been victorious in four of their previous five contests.

Morehead State's Kari Quinn (6-1) is the leading pitcher in the OVC and picked up the victory in game two. A senior from Phoenix, Ariz., Quinn tallied two strikeouts in seven innings in the circle and allowed three earned runs.

The Eagles' Alex Gjevre (7-1) tallied the win in Friday's first game. She finished with four strikeouts in seven innings and didn't allow an earned run.

Samford's Amanda Barrs (1-2) was saddled with both of the Bulldogs' tough-luck one-run losses. She only allowed three earned runs all day and compiled four strikeouts. A natural infielder, Barrs has been forced to pitch due to injuries and has proven to be one of Samford's top competitors in the circle.

"I really thought that Amanda did a great job of pitching today," Ketcham said. "She's a fighter when she's out there and we know that we are going to get every ounce of her effort. She definitely put us in a position to where we could have won both games, but we either made defensive mistakes or we weren't able to get key hits."

In game one, Barrs took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and neither team scored until the fifth frame when Morehead State tallied an unearned run.

Samford then immediately rebounded with a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth inning as freshman Aaren Fisher was hit by a pitch to lead off. She later scored to tie the game at 1-1 on an RBI bunt from Amanda Jordan.

Morehead State tallied the game-winning run in the top of the sixth inning to make the final score 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Samford attempted to put together a two-out rally with consecutive hits from Jordan, Jessica Owens and Jessica Metcalf. The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the inning, but Morehead State's Gjevre was able to pitch her way out of the jam.

Samford was led in hitting by Owens, who turned in a 3-for-4 performance at the plate in game one. The Bulldogs' junior from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., currently leads the team with a stellar .366 batting average this season. Owens has tallied a base hit in 18 of her previous 20 games.

Morehead State was led offensively by Brandy Bucher. The Eagles' first baseman from Encinitas, Calif., went 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in the game-winning run.

In game two Friday, Morehead State jumped out to a 4-0 lead by scoring runs in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Bucher turned in another solid performance at the plate and went 3-for-4 with a run scored. The Eagles' Korey Ellis was also solid with a 2-for-3 outing and an RBI.

With Morehead State leading 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Samford mounted a late comeback attempt.

Barrs ignited the one-out rally with a line-drive double to deep center field. Fisher then sent a laser to left field for a single and Barrs later scored from third on a wild pitch. With one out and Fisher at second base, the Bulldogs' Katie England hammered a 1-2 fastball deep over the fence in left center field.

With the roundtripper, England's fourth of the season, Samford trimmed Morehead State's lead to 4-3. Despite the Bulldogs' late rally, Quinn was able to stifle the charge and the Eagles were able to hold on for a slight one-run win.

Samford was led offensively by Owens, Barrs, Fisher and England in game two. All four players tallied 1-for-3 performances at the plate.

"The second game was like one of those games where it seemed as if we couldn't do anything right," Ketcham said. "Everything seemed to be going their way. Morehead State was scoring on dribblers in the infield and Kylie (Harmon) hits a line drive and their shortstop makes a diving catch. There's really nothing we can do about those kinds of things, so we just have to keep fighting and come out tomorrow looking to get a win."

The Samford University softball team will conclude its three-game OVC home series against the Morehead State Eagles on Saturday at 1 p.m., at Bulldog Field.