Box Score BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Samford University softball team recorded a 5-4 victory over Gardner-Webb University to take the series on Sunday, March 9, at University Field.

Freshman Abby Sweeney put the Bulldogs (19-5) on the scoreboard first with an RBI single that scored junior Abby Adams from second base.

Gardner-Webb (7-16) touched up starting freshman pitcher Rebecca Leonard in the bottom of the second and battled back to plate three runs on two hits for a 3-1 lead. Junior Mollie Hanson (10-4) relieved Leonard and proceeded to shut down the Runnin' Bulldogs offense for the rest of the contest.

Samford closed the scoring gap down to 3-2 after sophomore Caitlin Bice doubled into right center field to score junior Caroline Seay from second base.

GWU extended the lead back out to a run game in the bottom of the fourth on a Beres RBI single up the middle; the run put the score at 4-2.

SU needed a big inning and got one in the top of the fifth as sophomore Hannah Taylor notched a two RBI single up the middle that scored Seay and sophomore Megan Dowdy. The Bulldogs tacked on one extra run in the frame to go up 5-4 as junior Madison Dickey's appearance at the plate ended in a bases loaded hit-by-pitch that scored Adams.

Hanson tallied nine strikeouts through five and two thirds innings pitched and only allowed one walk.

The Bulldogs return home to host Alabama State University on Tuesday, March 11, at Samford Field with first pitch set for 6 p.m.