Box Score TAMPA, Fla. ---- Samford Softball closed its opening weekend with an early-morning matchup against 15th-ranked Michigan.  The Wolverines prevented the Bulldog offense from finding a rhythm as Samford fell, 4-0.
 
Samford (2-2) was led at the plate by Megan Dowdy and Madison Dickey, batting first and second, as they both went 2-3.  Mollie Hanson (2-1) got the start and lasted 3.1 innings, allowing only one earned run in the tough loss.
 
Over the weekend's four games, Dickey went 5-11 (.455) with two RBI while Dowdy (.444) and Hannah Taylor (.364) each collected four hits.
 
The heart of Michigan's (3-1) order did most of the damage, with Sierra Romero and Sara Driesenga going a combined 3-5 with two RBI out of the three-hole and cleanup spots.  Driesenga (3-1) went the full 7.0 innings in the circle as well, allowing six hits with five strikeouts.
 
Dowdy didn't waste any time getting a number in the hit column, knocking a single through the left side to lead off the game.  The speedy freshman advanced to second on a groundout to the shortstop and then advanced to third on a groundout to second.  That's as far as she would reach however, as a third groundout ended the half-inning.
 
In the top of the third, the Bulldogs recorded back-to-back hits with two outs looking to break the scoreless tie.  The Wolverines got out of trouble however, taking a ground ball for the force out at second.
 
Hanson held the Wolverines' offense in check until they looked to break through in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the half-inning with back-to-back singles.  Kelsey Susalla reached first on a fielder's choice as they got Mary Sbonek, pinch-running for Driesenga, out at second to put runners at the corners with one away.  Caitlin Blanchard broke Michigan through in the run column with a single down the right-field line, scoring Romero from third to make it 1-0 Wolverines.  That ended the day for Hanson on the mound as Shelby Scott came in relief with two runners on and one out.  Sierra Lawrence flied out to center as Susalla tagged up at second, advancing to third to put runners at the corners with two away.  Ashley Lane flew out to right field to end the inning as Scott prevented the Wolverines from tacking on another run.
 
Amy Knapp led off the Michigan half of the fifth inning with a single and Lyndsay Doyle laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position.  Nicole Sappingfield reached on an error the following at-bat as Knapp moved to third to put runners at the corners with one out.  Romero would score Knapp with a sacrifice fly, as Sappingfield moved to second with the Wolverines now up 2-0.  Driesenga singled back up the middle to score her from second, stretching the lead to 3-0, though a fly ball would end the inning as the Bulldogs now faced a three-run deficit.
 
Samford looked to avoid the shutout in the top of the sixth as Madison Dickey led off the inning with a single, her second of the game, and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts.  A grounder to the shortstop kept her stranded however as the Bulldogs still trailed by three.
 
Misha Aldridge entered to pitch for Samford in the bottom of the sixth, looking to prevent the Wolverines from pulling away.  The senior allowed a one-out walk to Lawrence and Lane followed that up with a single to left field, putting runners at the corners with one out.  Knapp extended the lead with an RBI single to the left-field gap, scoring Lawrence and moving Lane to third.  Knapp then stole second with Doyle at the plate, who reached on a fielder's choice as Lane was tagged out at home trying to score.  Doyle stole second but a popout ended the half-inning with Michigan now in front, 4-0.
 
Taylor would give the Bulldogs a shot at a comeback in the top of the seventh with a one-out infield single.  Madeline Baker came in to pinch run for Taylor and moved to second on a groundout.  Driesenga preserved the shutout however with her fifth strikeout of the game to end it with Michigan on top, 4-0.
 
The Bulldogs will head southeast for the first of seven SEC matchups this season, facing the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. CT at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.