Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- After two disappointing losses yesterday, Samford bounced back to avoid the series sweep with a 3-1 win over the College of Charleston Sunday at Birmingham Southern Softball Field.
 
The win snaps a seven-game losing streak for Samford (11-22, 3-9 SoCon) and gives the Bulldogs their third conference win of the season.  An efficient Samford offense only left two runners on base, their lowest total in a victory this year since the season-opening win against Florida Atlantic on Feb. 8.  Shelby Scott (2-7) threw the opening three frames with only one earned run for the win, while Caitlin Bice pitched 4.0 shutout relief innings for the save.  The defense made great plays behind them with no errors and two crucial turned double plays.
 
The Bulldogs jumped on the College of Charleston (19-16, 8-6 SoCon) and ace lefty Hope Klicker (4-3) early, as she allowed three runs over one-plus innings to earn an early exit.  Valerie Cassell only allowed one hit over 5.0 relief innings for the Cougars but the offense fell short, only earning four hits after tallying 14 over yesterday's two games.
 
Samford got on the board right away in the first inning as Alex Adams drove in Megan Dowdy from second with a single to center field, putting the 'Dogs up 1-0.  Adams advanced to second on the throw home and Callie Brister headed for third but was thrown out for the first out of the inning.  A pair of groundouts ended the inning but the Bulldogs were now playing with their first lead of the weekend.
 
Leading off the second inning, Abby Adams was hit by a pitch and Shelby Scott made a home run bid that fell just short, hitting the wall in left center for a double as two runners were now in scoring position with no outs.  That double ended the day for Klicker in the circle as Cassell entered in a pressure spot.  With Caroline Seay at the plate, Cassell skimmed a pitch in the dirt that ran to the backstop as Adams scored off the wild pitch and Scott advanced to third.  Seay grounded out to the shortstop, holding Scott at third, but Kayla Shaffer drove her home off a groundout to the right side, giving Samford the 3-1 lead with two outs.  An infield popup ended the inning with Samford holding a three-run lead.
 
The Cougars would avoid the shutout in the top of the third off an Aston Jarrett RBI single but the visitors would not get a hit again until the seventh inning.  Courtney Clark, pinch hitting for Allison Pedigo, took the first pitch of the at-bat to left field to bring the potential tying run to the plate.  Rebecca Mueller lined out to Seay at second, who made a quick throw to Rachel Bickert at first, catching Clark off the base for a clutch double play.  Kristy Giragosian briefly kept the Cougars' hopes alive with a two-out single but an easy fly ball to center field would end it as Samford held on for the 3-1 conference win.
 
Next up, Samford will take a midweek trip to Bowling Green, Ky., for a doubleheader against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.  Game one is set for a 5 p.m. CT start.