March 26, 2008

Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team was swept in a midweek Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader Wednesday as the Bulldogs were defeated by the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 9-0 and 12-1 (5) at Bulldog Field.

"I'm very disappointed in how our team played because we didn't come out ready to compete," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "We weren't ready to play at all tonight and you can't do that against a good team like Jacksonville State. We knew that they were going to score some runs, but offensively we didn't even put up a fight."

With the pair of losses, Samford (11-17, 3-5 OVC) dropped to 3-10 at home this season. The Bulldogs concluded a nine-game homestand Wednesday with a 3-6 record.

This weekend, Samford will leave the state of Alabama for the first time since Feb. 24, as the Bulldogs square off against Eastern Kentucky in a three-game series held in Richmond, Ky. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at noon, followed by the series finale Sunday.

Jacksonville State (17-8, 6-1 OVC) extended its winning streak to five-straight games and improved to 10-2 since Feb. 27.

The Gamecocks exploded for 21 runs on 28 hits Wednesday, including six doubles and four home runs. In the doubleheader, 10 Jacksonville State players recorded at least one hit, while eight featured multiple-hit performances. Sophomore Chrissy O'Neal and junior Kayla Collins each picked up five hits, while junior Jackie Jarman went 4-for-5.

O'Neal, Jacksonville State's outfielder from Dallas, Texas, tied a school record with two home runs in a game and hit both of the round-trippers in the same inning.

She ignited a 10-run third frame in game two by hitting a two-run shot and a grand slam in the inning. O'Neal was 5-for-9 on the day with six RBI and three runs scored. The Gamecocks' centerfielder was the sixth player in school history to homer twice in a game and was the first to accomplish the feat in the same inning.

Jacksonville State's Melissa Dowling (11-5) earned the victory in game one, while Ashley Eliasson (5-2) picked up the win in game two.

Samford's Jessica Owens turned in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate in Wednesday's first game. The Bulldogs' speedy junior from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., recorded two of the team's three hits in the 9-0 loss.

In game two, Samford was led offensively by Jeslyn Metcalf and Amanda Barrs. Metcalf led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and later scored as Barrs drove her in from third base with a single of her own to left field. Metcalf went 1-for-2 in the second game, while Barrs turned in a 1-for-1 outing.

The Samford University softball team will next be in action Saturday at noon as the Bulldogs begin a three-game OVC series against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in Richmond, Ky.