Softball Splits Series-Opening Doubleheader With Southeast Missouri :: The Bulldogs run-rule the Redhawks in game one, 8-0; Lose heartbreaker in game two, 4-3

The Bulldogs run-rule the Redhawks in game one, 8-0; Lose heartbreaker in game two, 4-3

April 12, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the second time in two weeks, the Samford softball team was just a half-inning shy of recording a doubleheader sweep against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent. On Saturday, the Bulldogs cruised to an 8-0 victory in game one before Southeast Missouri's Michelle Summers hit a seventh-inning, game-winning homer in game two, 4-3.

"We won a lot of battles today and I thought that our players played well all day long," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "I was really pleased with that and I think that they realized that there was a positive difference in the way that they approached the games. We did better out there today, but we still have a lot at stake this season."

Similar to a game at Eastern Kentucky on March 29, Samford (14-24, 6-11 OVC) was just a half-inning short of recording a doubleheader sweep Sunday.

The Bulldogs held a 3-2 lead heading into the seventh inning when Southeast Missouri's (19-20, 8-8 OVC) pinch hitter Whitney Dupuis led off the frame with an infield single. The Redhawks' next batter, Summers, who entered the game with the conference's second-highest batting average of .408, then towered the winning two-run homer to centerfield.

Summers had been limited to an 0-5 performance prior to her final at-bat, but she connected on a first-pitch offering from Samford's Kayla Burris (5-7) in the top of the seventh inning.

The home run was Summers' team-leading 12th of the season and gave Southeast Missouri its decisive 4-3 advantage.

"I have to give a lot of credit to Southeast Missouri for how they came back in the second game," Ketcham said. "They didn't get down after we beat them 8-0 in game one and they continued to play hard. We knew that it was going to be a tough matchup and they were able to get the home run in the top of the seventh.

"Michelle (Summers) is such a great hitter and she's having an outstanding season so far. Our pitchers did a great job against her today and they limited her to only one hit, it just happened to be the one that hurt us."

Summers finished game two with a 1-for-4 performance at the plate.

She drove in the two game-winning runs and also scored a run. Her teammate, Megan McDonald, entered Saturday's doubleheader as the top hitter in the OVC with a .435 batting average. She hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to give the Redhawks an early 2-0 lead.

McDonald finished the game with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate. She also scored a run.

Samford's Burris only allowed two runs on seven hits, but was saddled with the tough-luck loss. She came on in relief of Amanda Barrs and pitched the last 5.2 innings of the game.

Southeast Missouri's Elaine Fisher (14-13) earned the win in game two, despite getting pounded for five runs in only three innings in the opener.

Samford exploded for eight runs on 11 hits in game one and recorded its first run-rule victory of the 2008 season. Barrs (4-5) picked up the victory in the circle and drove in three of the Bulldogs' eight runs at the plate. A sophomore from Harrisburg, N.C., Barrs paced Samford's offense with a 2-for-3 performance in the game.

Fellow-sophomore Katie England also turned in a 2-for-3 outing in the opener. The Bulldogs' starting third baseman made a number of outstanding plays in the field and also scored a run.

The key play of game one occurred in the bottom of the second inning when Samford's Kristy Lawrence blasted a deep three-run home to left field. Following a single from England and a walk by Emily Deaux, Lawrence turned on a first-pitch changeup from Fisher and banged it high of the scoreboard beyond left field.

"Our hitters were seeing the ball very well today and we able to build up a lot of confidence," Ketcham said. "I was pleased with how they were competing at the plate and we were able to score a lot of runs. We know that we have another big game tomorrow and at this point in the season, we have to make sure that we win each and every series."

All nine starters recorded a hit for Samford in game one.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Sunday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs conclude their three-game OVC series against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks at Bulldog Field.

Live Stats - Game Three