Box Score BOONE, N.C. ---- Samford jumped ahead to an early 5-0 lead over Appalachian State in Sunday's series finale, but the Mountaineers would fight back to take the lead and hold off a Bulldog rally in the seventh to hand Samford a tough 7-6 loss.
 
Samford (9-13, 1-5 SoCon) out-hit their opponent, 8-7, with Alex Adams going 3-4 at the plate including a two-run homer to score the first runs of the game.  Shelby Scott (0-3) took the loss in the circle, throwing 1.2 relief innings and giving up the lead in the fifth inning, which the Bulldogs would not regain.
 
Appalachian State (6-4, 5-1 SoCon) scored seven unanswered runs and would hold off a seventh-inning rally by Samford to secure the series sweep.  Seven different players in the Mountaineer lineup would earn a hit with Meaghan Smith giving them the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning.  Alissa Schoelkopf (6-4) threw 4.2 relief innings, holding the lead to earn her sixth win of the season.
 
Alex Adams got the Bulldogs on the board first with a two-run homer in the top of the first, her second of the weekend, giving Samford the early 2-0 lead with one away.  The Mountaineers would go down in order in the bottom half of the inning as the Bulldogs were able to hold the two-run lead.
 
Callie Brister padded Samford's lead with another long ball, a solo bomb leading off the top of the third that made the score 3-0.  Later, a one-out single by Alex Adams would end the outing for Landeros as Alissa Schoelkopf entered in relief for the Mountaineers.  On a 0-2 count, Shelby Scott roped a double to the right-field gap to put two runners in scoring position with one away.  Abby Adams would bring them both home with a double to left-center, stretching the Samford lead to 5-0.  Caroline Wilder would draw a two-out walk to put two on base but they would ultimately be left stranded as the Bulldogs took a five-run lead into the bottom of the third.
 
The Mountaineers would get their first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third and, later with two outs, would drive in a runner from second with an RBI single for their first run of the game.  A bunt single would put two runners on base and Lindsay Loudermilk would drive the lead runner home with an RBI single to make the score 5-2.  Allie Cashion would cut the lead to one with a two-run double down the left-field line which ended the day for Aldridge in the circle.  Scott, the starting designated player, entered to pitch with a one-run lead, two outs and a runner at second.  On the second pitch of the at-bat, Meghan Smith hit a fly ball in foul territory to strand the potential tying run at second as the Bulldogs were able to hold the lead, though it was now 5-4.
 
Appalachian State would draw two walks to lead off the bottom of the fourth.  After two strikeouts, another walk would load the bases but a lineout would leave them all stranded as Samford tiptoed out of the half-inning with the one-run lead.
 
Appalachian State would take their first lead of the game off a two-run homer by Smith in the bottom of the fifth, drawing ahead 6-5 as that ended the day for Scott.  Caitlin Bice entered to pitch, forcing consecutive groundouts to end the inning but the Bulldogs were now playing from behind, trailing 6-5.
 
Appalachian State would pad their lead with a one-out sacrifice fly in the sixth, moving ahead 7-5 as the Bulldogs headed into the final inning trailing by two.  Alex Adams would grab a one-out single and Caroline Seay, pinch running, would advance to third on a wild pitch and would score off a sacrifice fly to draw the Bulldogs within one.  The rally would fall short however as a flyout ended the game with Appalachian State edging out the one-run victory.
 
Next up, Samford plays a pair of midweek road games, first facing Memphis on Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m. CT and then Ole Miss on Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. CT.