User blog comment:WildJackal/Sam beating Freddie a sign that she loves him?/@comment-3015402-20110719053604

She actually picked on him at the beginning because she thought he was a nerd - one without a chance of getting together with Carly.

When she realized she had feelings for him, I'm guessing she was scared to express them, because they've been playing a game of fighting with each other (and Freddie's the only one who ever fought back, even Gibby didn't), so she continued.