Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. ---- For the second-straight season, Samford avoided an early exit from postseason play by posting a convincing 8-0 win over eighth-seeded Elon in Wednesday's SoCon Tournament opener.
 
With the win, Samford (15-33, 6-15 SoCon) now holds a 3-1 record over Elon (21-31, 8-14 SoCon) this season, outscoring the Phoenix 21-2 over the four games.  The Bulldog offense came alive to put together its highest-scoring effort ever at the SoCon Tournament, thanks in part to home runs by Abby Adams and Callie Brister. 
 
On the other side of the ball, the pitching and defense held Elon in check as the Phoenix stranded 11 runners on base while Shelby Scott and Misha Aldridge (3-4) combined for 7.0 shutout innings, with Aldridge earning the win after throwing 4.0 relief innings.  The Elon defense gave the Bulldogs plenty of extra chances too, as four errors led to four of Samford's eight runs.
 
Samford's bats were working immediately as Megan Dowdy stretched the count full to lead off the game with a single and Kayla Shaffer followed that with a first-pitch single to put two on with nobody out.  Two batters later, Alex Adams put the Bulldogs on the board with a two-run double to the left-field corner as Samford pulled ahead 2-0.  Two strikeouts kept her stranded at second however, but Samford was playing with a lead after the opening half-inning.
 
Tomeka Watson got Elon's first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, cracking a two-out double to the left-field gap.  Aly Quintana was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat to bring power-hitting Carleigh Nester to the plate as the potential go-ahead run.  After a quick mound visit, Scott got the Bulldogs out of trouble by forcing Nester to pop out as the Bulldogs held on to their 2-0 lead.
 
Scott led off the top of the fourth with a weak popup to the third baseman, but the fielder dropped it allowing Scott to reach as the leadoff baserunner.  Arica Dykes pinch ran for Scott and stole second in the first pitch of the next at-bat and, two batters later, Misha Aldridge reached on a fielder's choice to put two on with one out.  Abby Adams brought everybody home with her third home run of the season, giving the Bulldog a 5-0 lead.  That ended the day for White in the circle as Kari Pervell came in relief for the Phoenix.  Two groundouts ended the half-inning with Samford holding a five-run lead through 3 1/2.
 
Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Elon in the fourth with nobody out as Aldridge entered to pitch in the tough spot.  Abby Adams threw back-to-back groundouts back home for two force outs and a weak grounder to Aldridge ended it as the Bulldogs got out of the bases-loaded jam unscathed, still leading 5-0 through four innings.
 
Samford held the lead heading into the seventh, looking to add some insurance.  Caroline Seay swung at the third strike to lead off the inning but reached off a passed ball and immediately stole second in the next at-bat to put a runner in scoring position with nobody out.  Dowdy sacrificed Seay to third but an errant throw allowed Dowdy to move to second and Seay to score, pushing the Bulldogs up 6-0.  After a strikeout, Callie Brister took her first hit of the day over the fence as she unloaded a two-run homer into right field to put Samford up 8-0.  Alex Adams drew a walk and Shelby Scott took a double to the left-field fence to put two in scoring position with still just one out as Kayla Caruso entered as the third pitcher of the day for Elon.  A groundout and fly ball ended the half-inning with Samford holding a comfortable 8-0 lead.
 
Elon refused to go down quietly in the seventh, loading the bases with two away.  A groundout preserved the shutout however, as the Bulldogs held on for the convincing 8-0 win.
 
With the win, Samford advances to play top-seeded Appalachian State (30-20, 17-7 SoCon) today at 5 p.m. ET.