Box Score MACON, Ga. - The Samford University softball team wrapped up the opening day of the Mercer Invitational with a resounding 9-8 win over the host institution Mercer University on Friday, Feb. 7. Sophomore Callie Brister led the way going 3-for-4 at the plate with a two-run homerun and career-high four RBI in the win.

The Bulldogs offense exploded for nine runs on 13 hits against a Bears squad that tallied eight runs on eight hits in an offensive explosion.

SU broke onto the score board when Brister drove in fellow sophomore Megan Dowdy with a two-run blast over the left field wall.

With Samford's offense looked to gain traction after facing a talented Eastern Kentucky team with two good pitchers; Mercer had to step up and answer the call. The Bears did just that and reeled off five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-3 lead.

"Eastern Kentucky has two really good pitchers and they forced us to change our game plan in the first game." said head coach Mandy Burford. "EKU and Mercer are both really really good teams and we're going to get them again this weekend at some point; so we have to continue to improve."

"Overall, I'm really pleased with the competition; we are only going to get better this weekend after facing all of these quality teams."

This was not the first time Bulldogs had to comeback from a deficit after an opposing team took the lead the previous inning and Burford said the girls were ready to answer the call to respond again.

"That comes with experience," said Burford. "We have some sophomores now that really gained a lot of experience last year and even though they got a lot of playing time you could tell at times that they were freshman."

"This year though, you could tell that when their backs were against the wall they just pushed back harder. They never folded"

The Bulldogs did push back in the top of the third inning and plated three runs to knot the score even at 5-5. Freshman Abbie Miranda started the rally with a single down the left field line and was driven home by sophomore Hannah Taylor. Brister and Abby Adams each also had an RBI single in the inning.

Samford's offense kept rolling after holding Mercer scoreless in the bottom of the third; Miranda hit her first career home run to extend the Bulldog lead out to 6-5. The Bulldogs then tacked on three more runs to take a 9-5 lead that would not be relinquished.

MU climbed back into the game with a three run bottom of the fourth inning to put pressure on SU and close the lead down to 9-8.

Dowdy, the leadoff hitter, went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Madison Dickey notched two runs going 0-for3 with a walk.

"The box score doesn't show it but every out Dowdy had in the games was a line drive." Burford exclaimed. "She was seeing the ball really well and she set the tone for the rest of our offense."

Taylor had a successful game at the designated player position going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Abbey Adams went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Miranda went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.

Mollie Hanson (2-0) came in relief to pitch four innings and pick up the win; Carter (0-1) received the loss for the Bears.

The Samford softball team returns to field tomorrow 9 a.m. to face Florida A&M on day two of the Mercer Invitational.