April 15, 2003

Box Score

Nashville, Tenn. - The Samford softball team split an Atlantic Sun double header today in Nashville, Tenn., at Belmont, winning the first game 3-2 and dropping the second 4-3.

The Bulldogs are now 23-14 overall and 9-7 in the A-Sun. Belmont is now 8-30-1 overall and 5-13 in conference play. Samford returns to action on Friday with a home double header against Campbell at 4 p.m.

Sophomore Kelly Smith had a home run in each game to bring her season total to six. Her first home run of the day set a new team record for home runs in a season. The previous record of 26 was set by the 2000 team. The 2002 team now has 28 homers this season.

Smith hit a two-run bomb in the top of the fourth inning, and an RBI single by Michelle Wright in the sixth inning sealed the 3-2 victory for Samford in game one.

With that RBI, Wright set a new season RBI record with 30. The previous record of 29 was held by former Bulldog Juliet Shunnarah. Wright now has 31 RBI on the season and Smith follows close behind her with 29. Smith extended her hitting streak to 11 straight games.

Freshman pitcher Emilee Lewis got the win for the Bulldogs to improve to 9-4 on the season. She tossed six and two-thirds innings allowing eight hits, two runs, one earned run, striking out four and walking one. Erin Landsburg picked up her first save of the year, facing one batter in the seventh.

Smith gave Samford the lead in game two with a home run in the top of the first inning.

However, in the bottom of the second with bases loaded, Landsburg walked Amber Brown to tie the game at one. Christi Davis then hit an RBI single to give Belmont the lead.

Landsburg then retired the next 10 batters in a row.

Samford scored two runs in the fifth inning when Wright hit a grounder with bases loaded and the fielder's throw home was wild allowing two runners to cross the plate at make the score 3-2.

Heidi Lane walked to lead off the home half of the sixth, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Leanna Crandle to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Landsburg walked Davis and back to back hits won the game for Belmont at 4-3.

Landsburg suffered the loss for Samford, bringing her record to 11-8. She gave up six hits, four runs, walked four and struck out two in six and two-thirds innings of work.