Bulldogs Keep Tourney Hopes Alive With Doubleheader Sweep Of UT Martin :: Samford's England blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning

Samford's England blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning

May 3, 2008

MARTIN, Tenn. - Samford (22-27, 13-13 OVC) earned its fourth-consecutive conference series win and improved its record to 8-3 since April 13. The Bulldogs also moved to 9-5 in their all-time series against UT Martin (28-26, 10-11 OVC).

With Saturday's losses, the Skyhawks had their four-game winning streak snapped. UT Martin also fell behind Samford in the OVC standings for the first time this year.

Sunday's regular-season finale between the Bulldogs and Skyhawks will decide the sixth-and-final spot in next week's OVC Tournament. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., at Bettye Giles Field.

In game two, Samford's Katie England proved to be the heroine as she hit a clutch two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give the Bulldogs their decisive 2-1 lead. After sophomore Amanda Barrs singled to right field to lead off the inning, England ripped a 2-2 pitch off the top of the fence in left field for the game-winning home run.

England, Samford's sophomore third baseman from Birmingham, paced the Bulldogs' offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Her seventh-inning home run was her team-leading ninth round-tripper of the season.

Freshman pitcher Margaret Carter (6-8) picked up both of the wins Saturday. In game one, she came on in relief of Barrs in the second inning and hurled the final 5.2 innings of the must-win contest. Carter only allowed one earned run on four hits to earn the victory.

In game two, Carter came on in relief of Barrs in the fourth inning and picked up the win by pitching 2.2 innings of no-hit softball. She only allowed one hit in the victory.

Offensively, Samford's Barrs went 1-for-3 with a run scored in game two. Junior first baseman Kristy Lawrence also turned in a 1-for-2 performance at the plate.

In Saturday's opener, the teams played a back and forth contest with Samford eventually coming up with the key hits to win the game.

With the score knotted at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs' Aaren Fisher and Barrs turned in back-to-back RBI hits to give Samford a 5-3 lead. Freshman Amanda Jordan led off the inning with a single up the middle and later scored on Fisher's double down the right-field line.

Later in the inning, Fisher crossed the plate and scored the Bulldogs' fifth run of the game. Barrs drove in Fisher on a line-drive single to right field.

Barrs went 2-for-3 with four RBI in game one, while Fisher was 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jessica Owens, who tied her own Samford single-season record with 19 stolen bases Saturday, went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Jeslyn Metcalf and Jordan also added base hits.

The Samford University softball team will conclude its three-game series against the UT Martin Skyhawks on Sunday at 1 p.m., as the Bulldogs play their final game of the 2008 regular season at Bettye Giles Field.

With a win, Samford would earn the sixth-and-final position in next week's OVC Tournament held in Jacksonville, Ala., May 8-10.

Live Stats - Game Three