Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team opened up play at home with an impressive 9-3 victory over Belmont University on Friday, Feb. 14, on the first day of the Samford Invitational Tournament.

Sophomore Callie Brister tied her career-high of 4 RBI going 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs to highlight the offense in the victory. The career mark is one she set against Mercer University on Feb. 07, 2014.

The Bulldogs (5-1) didn't waste time and jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead over the Bruins (2-3). After a pair of singles by sophomore Megan Dowdy and junior Caroline Seay, sophomore Hannah Taylor sent a two RBI shot out in center field to score the pair.

Samford tacked on a run in the bottom of the second frame of play to extend its lead out to 3-0. This time junior Madison Dickey led off with a walk and made her way into scoring position to set up Seay for the infield RBI single.

Belmont bounced back in the top of the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 3-3; two runs in the third and a solo run in the fourth.

SU's white-hot offense kicked into overdrive in the bottom of the fourth inning to plate four runs and take a 7-3 lead. Taylor knocked in her second RBI of the game on a single up the middle that scored freshman Abbie Miranda from third base to get the inning started. With two on and no outs for the Bulldogs, Brister launched a rocket over the center field wall to plate three more runs for Samford in the frame.

Samford plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to close out the game 9-3. Dowdy hit an RBI single in the fifth to score Dickey, who picked up her first hit of the season; and in the sixth Brister recorded her second home run of the game on a solo shot down the left field line.

Seay ended the day 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored; Dowdy went 2-fo-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored and Taylor finished the day going 2-for-4 with a career-high three RBI and a run scored. Dickey went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the contest.

The pitcher of record for SU was Grey Adams (2-0) who came in relief for Jessica Stone in the third inning. Taylor Moon (1-2) received the loss for the Bruins.

The Bulldogs return to action in the Samford Invitational Tournament tomorrow against the University of Evansville with first pitch slated for 1:30 p.m.