Box Score CONWAY, S.C. – The Samford University softball team cruised to a 17-1 victory over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in its second game of the Coastal Carolina Invitational on Saturday, March 01, at the Coastal Carolina Softball Field.

Freshman pitcher Rebecca Leonard pitched a two-hit complete game for the Bulldogs (15-4), but it was nowhere near what people would consider a pitchers' duel, as the Samford offense cranked out 17 runs in the victory over the Hawks (2-10). The 17 runs are the most scored since Samford defeated Robert Morris 21-0 in 2003.

Samford struck fast and hard in the bottom of the first inning against UMES as the team plated seven runs; the highlight of the inning was a grand slam home run by Arica Dykes.

The SU offense kept its' foot on the pedal and reeled off five more runs in the bottom of the second to extend its lead out to 12-0. The Bulldogs reeled off three doubles from the bats of Callie Brister, Rachel Bickert and Abbie Miranda to plate four runs for Samford with Dykes picking up the fifth RBI of the inning on a single through the left side.

The final blow by the Bulldogs offense was dealt in the bottom of the fourth frame as the team tallied five more runs to take a 17-0 lead heading into the fifth. The long ball game into play again for SU as Abby Adams hit her second of the game and Caitlin Bice followed suit to hit one as well.

UMES scored its lone run in the top of the fifth inning off of a bases loaded wild pitch.

Dykes and Adams led the way at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored apiece, while Adams yanked two home runs and Dykes smashed the Bulldogs first grand slam of the season. Bice had a nice day at the plate going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Brister and Bickert both went 2 for 2 at the plate.

Leonard also recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in the effort.

Samford softball takes the field again tomorrow to play Saint Peter's University at 9 a.m. and and the host school Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m.