Sept. 29, 2007

OXFORD, Ala. - The Samford University softball team started its fall season on a winning note Saturday as the Bulldogs picked up a pair of wins at the inaugural Tera Ross Memorial hosted by Jacksonville State University.

"I thought that we played well today," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "Our defense did a good job and we were able to hit the ball. I also thought that our pitchers did well and we were able to steal a lot of bases. Jeslyn Metcalf did an outstanding job at the plate and it seemed like she was on base all day."

Samford (2-0) opened the competition with an 9-0 victory against Jefferson State, and then downed Alabama Southern 8-2 in the second game. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play a third contest Saturday night, but the lights malfunctioned at the Oxford Lake Softball Complex.

Junior pitcher Stephanie Royall starred in Samford's 9-0 win over Jefferson State. The Bulldogs' All-Ohio Valley Conference performer from Mill Valley, Calif., earned the win in the shutout victory and didn't allow a Jefferson State player to reach second base.

Offensively, senior Emily Deaux paced Samford in both games. The Bulldogs' outfielder from Collierville, Tenn., recorded a double and a single in game one and then slammed a home run against Alabama Southern in the afternoon contest.

True freshman Kayla Burris pitched Samford to the win in the second game and finished with nine strikeouts.

The Samford University softball team will resume play in the 2007 JSU Tera Ross Memorial on Sunday with games against Enterprise-Ozark, Mercer and Wallace-Hanceville. The 12-team tournament is being held at the Oxford Lake Softball Complex.