Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- An RBI double in the top of the first would give Western Carolina a 1-0 lead, which proved enough to defeat Samford in the series rubber match on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
 
Samford (10-17, 2-7 SoCon) would tally just three hits in the loss with only one of those coming after the third inning.  Despite the loss, the Bullogs did a good job holding it to a one-run game, stranding nine Catamount runners on base including a bases-loaded jam in the third and sixth innings.  Shelby Scott (1-6) took the loss in the circle, allowing one earned run over the opening 2.1 innings while Caitlin Bice kept the Western Carolina lineup in check, allowing only one hit and two walks over the remaining 4.2 innings.
 
Western Carolina (11-19, 3-6 SoCon) only had four hits on the day but made the most of them, holding on for the one-run victory behind a complete-game by Jordan Garrett (8-8) in the circle.
 
A leadoff walk in the top of the first came back to bite the Bulldogs as she was sacrificed over to second and driven home off a Taylor Sigmon double in the left-field gap.  Samford would threaten in the bottom half of the inning with a one-run deficit, as two walks and a single in between would load the bases with only one away.  A strikeout and groundout would strand all three however as Western Carolina held on to the 1-0 lead.
 
A leadoff double and a one-out walk in the top of the third would end the day for Scott in the circle as Bice entered looking to keep it a one-run game.  A force out at third put two outs on the board but a walk would load the bases for Shemekia Scotton, who went 3-6 in yesterday's games.  Bice got ahead of Scotton early, 0-2, which forced Scotton to reach out of the zone swinging for the third strike as no runs would score in the half-inning.
 
Western Carolina would load the bases again in the sixth inning but a groundout to Abby Adams at short and a quick flip to Caroline Wilder covering second would get the force out to end the half-inning.  Arica Dykes would draw a one-out walk in the bottom-half of the inning, representing the potential tying run, but a strikeout and fly ball to right field would end the game as Samford fell, 1-0.

On Tuesday Samford will host in-state rival Jacksonville State (17-13, 4-2 OVC) on Tuesday, March 26.  Due to continued construction on the Samford Softball Stadium, the game will be played at Spain Park High School.  First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.