Bulldog Bats Can't Keep Pace with SEC Foe; Swept in Season Opening Series

This afternoon the Samford Softball Field hosted a slugfest between the visiting Kentucky Wildcats and the Samford Bulldogs. For the first half of the game, Samford and Kentucky traded runs like scoring was going out of style. 5 total runs in the first, 4 in the second, 6 in the third, 4 in the fourth, 2 in the fifth, and then nada for the last two innings as the Wildcats escaped with a 12-9 victory. All but two starters for the Bulldogs tallied at least one hit, with starting center Fielder Mayfield driving in four runs by way of the long ball. The first was a three run shot to Left-Center Field in the bottom of the 3rd, driving in Briskin (DH) and Moore (3B). The second was a deep fly ball over the high wall out in left field that probably would have traveled 300 feet in the air if a pine tree wasn't in the flight path. This solo shot was the final score to cross the plate for the game.

While Samford's bats were undeniably hot, Kentucky committed 5 errors (officially, I would've scored them with 6 at the bare minimum), which allowed Samford to extend the inning multiple times in the early part of the game. SOCON pitcher of the year Swaney (Fr. RHP) lasted only 2 innings while allowing 3 hits, 4 runs (all earned) and walked 3 batters, 2 were HBP. Barnett (RHP) and DeCelles (LHP) worked the final 5 innings, allowing a combined 8 runs (all earned), 11 hits, and DeCelles walked 3 batters while striking out 2 batters thanks to an absolutely FILTHY changeup/fastball combo. Seriously, the changeup looks like the fastball, until it just stops in mid air and just dies.

While it's a sample size of n=1, the team looks like they could make a lot of noise in the SOCON. Good hitting and good defense look like they will form the backbone of the season. Hopefully the combination of a blistery cold day and facing an SEC team can explain the lackluster performances in the circle. However, one thing working in this staff's favor is that every pitcher had a strike rate over 55%, and the first pitch strike rate for the day was 52%. Obviously you'd like to see those numbers closer to 60-65%, but it's a long season.

Samford returns to the diamond on Wednesday as they host a doubleheader against Alabama State. The first game is set for a 4:00 first pitch. Follow the team on Twitter for updates as late Winter/early Spring weather here in the South is notoriously hard to predict and can change dramatically hour to hour. Due to COVID policy, those not directly related to a player or coach can't sit in the stands, so you can either watch the games on ESPN+ or bring a lawn chair and watch from the parking deck across the street from Mountain View. Though I'd recommend arriving early so you can watch from the ledge and not have to stand for the entire game.