Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. ---- Samford faced an early 4-0 deficit to Belmont Sunday but the Bulldog offense came alive late as they scored five unanswered runs to win the game, 5-4, in a bit of an unconventional walkoff fashion.
 
Samford (6-6) earns its sixth win of the season, its third of the weekend.  Alex Adams was the Bulldogs' leading hitter Sunday with a stellar 3-4 performance out of the three-hole with a run scored and an RBI.  Misha Aldridge (2-0) got the win in the circle, pitching 3.0 shutout relief innings and also scored the game-tying run with a huge three-run homer in the fifth, Samford's first home run of the season.
 
Belmont (6-6) played an otherwise solid game, but the Bulldog offense proved too potent for starter Carolyn Snodgress (2-1) late in the game as she ended allowing five runs, four earned, off nine hits and two walks.
 
In the top of the second inning, the Belmont leadoff batter was walked and the second batter laced a double into the left-field gap, putting two in scoring position with nobody out.  Belmont's Kimberly Johnson fired the game's opening shot, knocking an RBI single down the right-field line to score one and put runners at the corners with nobody out.  The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Jessica Wilson hit a two-run single into center field to put the Bruins up 3-0 with two on and still nobody out.  After a strikeout, Kat Hollingsworth hit a single to load the bases yet again, but an infield popup held everyone in place for the second out and a strikeout left them stranded as the Bullodgs got out of the bases-loaded jam but now faced a 3-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the second.
 
The Bulldogs looked to score their first run of the game in the bottom of the second, as Hannah Taylor and Abby Adams recorded back-to-back hits with two outs to bring the potential game-tying run to the plate.  A flyout to right field stranded the pair and kept Samford scoreless as they still trailed 3-0.
 
Belmont's Becca Gift was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the third and Heather Turner looked to bring her home, launching a triple into the left-field gap.  Gift was tagged out at home however as Arica Dykes threw the ball to the cutoff Abby Adams at short who launched it back home to get the out.  A strikeout and groundout would keep Turner at third base as the Bulldogs escaped the half-inning unscathed.
 
A pair of singles in the bottom of the fourth inning put two runners on with one away for the Bulldogs.  Rachel Bickert and Caroline Seay, both pinch-running, moved into scoring position off a wild pitch but a popup and a groundout would leave them stranded as the Bulldogs could not chip away at the three-run deficit.
 
In the top of the fifth, Belmont's Mia Vierra led off the inning with a double and Gift followed that up with a bunt as Vierra came home off the throw and Gift advanced to second with the score now 4-0.  That ended the day for Scott in the circle as Aldridge came in relief for the Bulldogs.  Three groundouts ended the half-inning with the Bruins only able to extend their lead by one.
 
Caroline Wilder led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double and with two outs, Callie Brister showed great patience at the plate by drawing a walk after taking the at-bat to a full count.  Alex Adams prevented the shutout with an RBI single into center field, scoring Wilder from second and putting two runners on with two away.  On a 0-2 count, Aldridge tied the game with one big swing of the bat by blasting a three-run homer to straightaway center field.  A walk and a groundout would end the inning as the ballgame was now tied, 4-4, heading into the sixth.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Brister and Alex Adams led off the inning with back-to-back singles, putting the potential winning run in scoring position right away.  In a big situation, Belmont turned to freshman Taylor Moon to pitch them out of the jam.  After an infield fly, Caitlin Bice reached on a fielding error as the bases were now loaded with only one away.  Taylor reached on a fielder's choice and Brister was out on the force at home, as the Bulldogs were down to their last out in regulation with the bases loaded.  On a 1-0 count, Abby Adams was hit by a pitch which, with the bases loaded, scored the game-winning run to give the Bulldogs the 5-4 walkoff win off the rare hit-by-pitch RBI.
 
Next up, Samford will head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Wednesday, Feb. 27 to take on the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide (16-0) at 6 p.m. CT.