Metcalf Leads 'Dogs to 6-3 Eight-Inning Victory At Tennessee State :: The Bulldogs' Burris came on in relief in game one and earned the victory in the circle

The Bulldogs' Burris came on in relief in game one and earned the victory in the circle

April 26, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Samford University softball team finished with a 1-1 record Friday in a marathon six-hour Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader against the Tennessee State Tigers. The Bulldogs rallied for a 6-3 eight-inning victory in game one before losing the nightcap 7-2.

With the doubleheader split, Samford (17-27, 10-13 OVC) remained in eighth place in the conference standings and moved to an 11-4 all-time record against Tennessee State (16-34, 8-15 OVC). The Bulldogs' Jeslyn Metcalf went 4-for-5 in game one and drove in the winning runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In Samford's 6-3 victory, Metcalf turned in one of the best offensive performances of her illustrious four-year career.

The Bulldogs' speedy centerfielder from Dothan went 4-for-5 at the plate, scored a pair of runs and drove in the game-winning scores in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Metcalf ripped a sizzling grounder up the middle to drive in Kylie Harmon and Kayla Burris to give Samford a 4-2 lead.

Samford's Aaren Fisher also turned in an outstanding offensive performance in game one. The Bulldogs' freshman rightfielder went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Fisher, a native of Henderson, Nev., increased her team-high total in runs batted in to 33.

Amanda Barrs, who started at pitcher for Samford in both games Friday, went 2-for-5 at the plate in the opener and also drove in a run. In the nightcap, Barrs (7-7) allowed two earned runs in three innings and was saddled with the loss.

Tennessee State's Lauren Weber (5-6) earned the victory in the circle and only gave up one earned run in 4.1 innings. The Tigers' senior from Franklin, Tenn., struck out four Bulldog batters.

In game one, Samford jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as the Bulldogs reeled off three-consecutive singles. Metcalf ignited the rally with a line drive to center field. She then stole second base and later scored on Fisher's single to left center.

On Fisher's hit, the ball was misplayed by Tennessee State's centerfielder and Fisher advanced all the way to third base. Samford's Barrs then strolled to the plate and ripped a liner passed the third baseman to drive in the Bulldogs' second run of the game.

In the bottom of the first inning, Tennessee State answered with two runs of its own, but then neither team scored again until the top of the eighth inning.

Samford's Margaret Carter came in to pitch in the bottom of the first inning and hurled 4.2 frames of shutout softball for the Bulldogs. She only allowed two hits in the game.

Burris, another talented freshman Samford pitcher, entered the game in the sixth inning and picked up the victory in the circle. She pitched the final three innings of the game and only allowed one earned run on four hits. With the victory, Burris improved to 7-7 on the season.

In game two, Tennessee State tied a season-high with seven runs on six hits and took advantage of three costly Samford errors. With their 7-2 victory, the Tigers snapped an eight-game losing streak and earned their first win since April 13.

Tennessee State took advantage of the some Samford miscues and scored a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings. Then, after Jessica Owens and Metcalf drove in scores in the top of the fifth frame to trim the lead to 4-2, the Tigers exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take their decisive 7-2 advantage.

Owens led the Bulldogs' offensive attack with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. She drove in a run and also scored a run in game two. With four more games remaining in the regular season, Owens is only eight hits shy of becoming the school's all-time single-season hits leader. She currently has 52 hits this season and needs 60 to set the record.

In game two, Tennessee State's Tamara Perkins led the way with a 1-for-3 outing at the plate. The Tigers' sophomore rightfielder from Lawrenceville, Ga., hit a screaming two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Samford University softball team will conclude its three-game series against the Tennessee State Tigers on Saturday at 1 p.m., at Tiger Field (500).