Box Score CONWAY, S.C. – The Samford University softball team (14-4) capitalized off of five hits to defeat Marshall University (3-10) by the score of 4-1 in the opening contest of the Coastal Carolina Invitational on Saturday, March, 01, at the Coastal Carolina Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Caitlin Bice, with a 0-1 count, sprayed a shot to left field in the top of the first inning to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with one out.

Later in the inning, with runners on first and third, Bice stole second base which allowed sophomore Hannah Taylor to score after an errant throw by the catcher to go ahead 3-0.

A Katalin Lucas RBI double to left center put Marshall on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second to cut the Samford lead down to 3-1.

The Herd threatened again in the bottom of the third with two outs and runners on second and third, but Mollie Hanson (7-3) shut down Shaelynn Braxton and forced a ground out to junior Abby Adams at short to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth sophomore Callie Brister extended the Bulldogs lead back out to 4-1 after smashing a home run to left center on a full count at the plate.

Adams picked up her sixth multi-hit game going 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored while Seay finished 1 for 4 with a run scored. Brister's home run in the fourth inning was her fourth of the year.

Hanson picked up the complete-game victory, her fifth on the season.

The Bulldogs return to action later this afternoon to take on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 3:30 p.m.