Box Score MACON, Ga. – The Samford University softball team suffered its first loss of the 2014 season in a 5-1 decision to Mercer University in the championship game of the Mercer Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 09. The Bears plated five runs off of eight hits to pick up the victory.

After a hot start offensively to the 2014 season the Bulldogs (4-1) hit a wall; that wall was Bears (4-1) freshman pitcher Anna O'Neill (1-0). O'Neill held an explosive SU offense to just three hits and only allowed one earned run.

MU broke onto the scoreboard first to plate two runs and take a 2-0 advantage in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor Miller led off with a single to left field and stole second base that set up a McKenzie Woody RBI triple to right center field.

Woody eventually rounded the bases to score on a Kaytlin Haney groundout to the Mollie Hanson (2-1).

Samford turned around in the bottom of the fifth and threatened to break O'Neill's control in the circle. Sophomore Caitlin Bice drew a leadoff walk to start the inning and was replaced by pinch runner senior Arica Dykes; Dykes quickly stole second base and put the Bulldogs into scoring position.

Sophomore Caroline Wilder stepped into the batter's box and sent a shot into center field; Dykes took the opportunity to try to score but was gunned down at home plate on a throw from the Bears center fielder to keep the Bulldogs off the board.

Mercer cranked its offense back up in the top of the sixth and scored three insurance runs to extend its lead out to 5-0.

Samford's third and final hit of the game was its biggest, as it put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard and closed MU's lead down to 5-1. With no one on base and two outs, Hannah Taylor blasted a shot over the center field wall.

Megan Dowdy extended her hit streak out to five games going 1-for-3 at the plate in the contest while Wilder also went 1-for-3 on the day. Taylor finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Samford softball team returns home to face Austin Peay for a double-header on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at University Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with the second game expected to start at 5 p.m.