April 21, 2006

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Friday, April 21, 2006) - Samford's Stephanie Royall hurled the first no-hitter of her collegiate career on Friday as the Bulldogs' true freshman held the Southeast Missouri Redhawks hitless in a 1-0 rain-shortened win at Bulldog Field on Friday.

The game was called due to weather conditions in the top of the sixth inning as Samford (15-34, 5-12 Ohio Valley Conference) was leading, 1-0. Since the teams played at least five innings, the game was official and the Bulldogs earned the victory.

Friday's second game was postponed until Saturday as the teams will play a series-closing doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

Royall picked up her team-leading 10th win of the season on Friday and improved to 10-11 this year. She struck out four Redhawks in 5 2/3 innings of play and has earned seven of Samford's previous eight wins. With the defeat, Southeast Missouri (27-13, 14-4 OVC) had its two-game winning streak snapped and lost for only the fourth time since March 25.

Heading into the game, the Redhawks led the conference in hitting with a .304 batting average and were ranked 21st in the nation as a team in the category. Friday's loss was only the third time all season that Southeast Missouri was shut out and the first time that they were no-hit.

Samford scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as junior Jenna Dempski drilled a two-out single up the middle to score Shelley Stanley from second base.

Stanley, who is the Bulldogs' all-time home run leader, led off the inning with a similar single up the middle and later advanced to second base with her first steal of the season. Stanley, a native of Decatur, Ala., went 2-for-2 in the game and scored her 14th run of the year.

Elaine Fisher (12-9) was collared with the loss despite allowing only one run on five hits. She struckout four and walked none.

The Redhawks did reach base four times but couldn't get pass third base. Michelle Summers drew two walks from her lead-off spot.

The Redhawks softball team will conclude its three-game OVC series against the Samford on Saturday as the teams are scheduled to square off in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m., at Bulldog Field. Both games are available on gametracker.