Week in Review: Softball has 2 Midweek Games with SoCon Bye Week; Baseball Stumbles vs Alabama, WCU
- Chris S
- Apr 19, 2021
- 5 min read
Softball
Mississippi State: L 8-5
After having their first meeting rained out, the two Bulldogs met on Tuesday, April 13th where the good Bulldogs couldn't keep pace with their SEC counterparts as Samford fell 8-5.
Taylor DeCelles (L, 2-8) went the distance, allowing 8 runs on an equal amount of hits and 4 extra base runners on 3 hit batsmen and an additional base on balls. DeCelles forced 4 SEC opponents to grab some pine.
Timberlyn Shurbutt led the Bulldog offense with a multi-RBI night on 2-4 hitting with one of the team's doubles, bringing her season total up to 10. Shurbutt also drove in her 22nd RBI of the season on Tuesday. Ryan Brzozoski had the other double for Samford, collecting her first of 3 hits and her only RBI to open the scoring with an RBI double in the first, scoring Whitney Hinton.
Jacksonville St.: W 7-6
Samford completed the season sweep of in-state rival Jacksonville State on Thursday, April 15th with a 7-6 victory on the road against the Gamecocks.
Taylor DeCelles (W, 3-8) bounced back in a big way, pitching 4 innings in relief, allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 4. Emily Barnett (S, 4) started the game before exiting after completing the 2nd inning. Barnett would re-enter the game with the bases loaded and one out recorded in the Bottom of the 7th. Barnett's final line gives her 2 earned runs on 3 runs, 6 hits, and 3 punch outs. Freshman Outfielder Abby Martin made her collegiate debut in the circle on Thursday, recording the first out of the 7th inning, allowing 3 runs on 1 hit and 2 free passes.
Freshman Lindsey Nelson had a big night, going 2-4 with a 3 run blast to put the Bulldogs on the board. Nelson would tack on another RBI on a 5th inning single. Nelson would score twice in the game as well. Timberlyn Shurbutt collected her first triple of the season on Thursday and would cross the plate thrice.
In a game that saw quite a few firsts, Lindsey Nelson hit her first long ball of her career, Abby Martin saw action in the circle, and Timberlyn Shurbutt collected her first time behind the dish.
The Bulldogs will host Tennessee State for a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday before heading to Greensboro to take on the Spartans from UNCG.
Baseball
Alabama-Tuscaloosa : L 3-19
In a game that saw 11 pitchers used for the Bulldogs, Billy Creger (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing 3 runs on 1 hit and 2 walks while failing to record an out in his relief appearance. The Crimson Tide did a lot of damage with a 7 run 4th, which saw 4 pitchers come out of the 'pen for the Bulldogs. The Tide also put up crooked numbers in their half of the 6th (6 runs) and 7th (5 runs) that made the final inning and a half just a formality.
Carson Allison collected the sole multi-base hit on Tuesday with a double to Right Field, going a perfect 1-1 on the day. Tyler McManus, Ayrton Schafer, and Graham Dvorak each collected an RBI in Tuesday's game.
WCU G1: W 8-5
Samuel Strickland (ND, 3-2) had a very solid start, lasting 6.1 innings and allowing 3 runs on twice as many hits and a walk with 4 Ks. Carson Cupo (W, 5-0) finished off the rest of the 7th, allowing 2 hits. Jalon Long and Chase Isbell each tossed an inning with Long pitching a spotless 8th with a punch out and Isbell giving up 2 runs on a hit and 2 walks in the 9th.
Sonny DiChiara had a monster day, driving in 3 runs, including what would be the winning run. Sonny collected the only extra-base hit, doubling to right center in the 8th, driving in Garrett Howe and Taylor Garris. Will David was a perfect 3-3 on the day with 2 walks, adding on 2 RBIs and crossing the plate 3 times.
WCU G2: L 2-7
Jesse McCord (L, 3-4) gave up 6 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits and 4 free passes while striking out 8 Catamounts in 5 full innings of work. Billy Creger worked the 6th inning and retired one batter in the 7th, allowing 1 run on two hits and a walk, striking out 1. Gene Hurst had a nearly perfect rest of the 7th and 8th, with the only blemish coming via a walk. Hurst punched out 4, bringing the game total to 13.
Garrett Howe and Tyler McManus collected an RBI each, with Howe going 1-1 with a Run scored and 3 walks and McManus going 1-4. Colton Leadbetter was the sole member of the extra-base hit club, going 1-4 with a double.
WCU G3: L 11-12
Zach Hester (L, 1-3) had another so-so outing, recording just 7 outs before being pulled. Hester's final line gave him 3 runs against (2 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. The game, while not quite like the Alabama-Tuscaloosa matchup, was certainly a bullpen day, as only one pitcher for the Bulldogs (Blake Bortak) recorded 9+ outs.
Towns King's bat was scorching hot as the Left Fielder went 3-5 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs and launching the ball to Right-Center Field twice for a triple each time. Tyler McManus also had a solid day, going 2-5 with 3 RBIs and crossing the plate himself once.
This was the first time this season that Samford has lost a conference series. Despite the setback, Samford still holds a 5 game advantage for control of the Blue Division over ETSU and the Bulldogs hold a 2 game advantage over WCU for the top seed of the Postseason Tournament.
Samford will travel to the Loveliest Village on the Plains for a single game on Tuesday against the Auburn Tigers who are coming off a weekend series loss to Alabama-Tuscaloosa near the boarder with Mississippi. After the midweek game, Samford will return home for the weekend with the Bulldogs hosting the Mercer Bears with a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. Mercer will enter the weekend coming fresh off the heels of a sweep at the hands of the Keydets of VMI in Lexington, VA.
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