Box Score TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ---- Samford ran into a very strong Alabama team Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, as the second-ranked Crimson Tide shut out the Bulldogs, 11-0, in five innings.
 
Samford (6-7) wouldn't earn a hit until the final half-inning, while the defense didn't help their cause by committing four fielding errors that led to five unearned runs.  Mollie Hanson (4-6) got the start in the circle and took the loss, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing seven runs, three earned, off six hits.
 
Alabama's (17-0) potent offense was on display Wednesday as they tallied 10 hits, including three doubles and a home run.  Starting pitcher Leslie Jury (6-0) went the distance, giving up a no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning but ultimately earning the shutout victory to stay undefeated.
 
In the bottom of the first, Alabama leadoff hitter Kayla Braud reached on a high chopper to third base and advanced to second off a groundout to the pitcher.  Kaila Hunt roped a double down the left-field line that just stayed fair, scoring Braud for the first run of the game.  Jackie Traina followed that with an RBI single to shallow center, scoring Hunt.  After a walk, a groundout and a strikeout would end the inning with Alabama leading Samford, 2-0.
 
With two on base in the bottom of the second, an infield single by Haylie McCleney and a fielding error on the play brought both runners home and moved McCleney to third.  Hunt followed with an RBI single through the left side to score the Tide's fifth run of the game.  Traina then blasted a hard-hit ball back at Hanson in the circle, who caught it and quickly threw it to first to catch Hunt off the bag for the double play to end the inning with Alabama now in front, 5-0.
 
With one away in the bottom of the third, Alabama had the bases loaded as a walk brought home their sixth run of the game, ending the outing for Hanson in the circle.  Misha Aldridge entered in relief, looking to limit the damage with the bases loaded and one out.  Another bases-loaded walk brought home a run, but Aldridge ended the inning with a fielder's choice putout at home and a strikeout as the Tide now led 7-0.
 
Traina led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, and an error in the outfield on a fly ball brought her home to make the score 8-0 with a runner at second base.  Danielle Richard stretched the lead to double digits with a long home run to left field as the Tide now held a 10-0 lead.  After a strikeout, a double to the right-field gap brought home the runner from second to make it 11-0.  Back-to-back groundouts ended the inning as Samford headed into the top of the fifth needing to score four runs to avoid the early run-rule loss.
 
With one out in the top of the fifth, Caitlin Bice broke up Jury's no hitter, beating out an infield single to the shortstop.  Back-to-back groundouts ended the half-inning however as Alabama held on for the 11-0 run-rule shutout.
 
This weekend, Samford and UAB will be co-hosting the Magic City Classic at UAB Softball Park.  Five teams will play 11 games over three days beginning on Friday, March 1.  Samford's schedule includes three games: Nicholls State on Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m., UAB on Saturday, March 2 at 5 p.m. and South Alabama on Sunday, March 3 at 5 p.m.