Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team dropped the final game of the series 7-4 against Georgia Southern University on Sunday, May 4, at Samford Field.

The Bulldogs (36-16, 11-9 SoCon) fell behind early 1-0 in the contest to the Eagles (33-19, 15-6 SoCon) in the first inning.

GSU plated the one run on one hit in the first to take the lead. Morgan Robinson recorded the RBI on a bases loaded hit by pitch to score Taylor Rogers from third base.

SU bounced back and scored three unanswered runs with two in the third and one the fourth inning. Senior Arica Dykes started the inning off in the third and reached base after taking a pitch on the arm and was brought home to score on freshman Abbie Miranda's double to left center field. Abby Adams picked up an RBI base hit to score Miranda all the way from second.

The rally in the fourth started with a Rachel Bickert two out double to left and was brought home on Dykes' base hit to the shortstop.

Georgia Southern responded in the fifth with Kaitlyn Johnson two-RBI double to center field to tie the ball game at 3-3.

The two teams traded a pair of runs in the seventh to make the score 4-4 headed into extra innings.

The Eagles retook the lead in the eighth after a walk issued by pitcher Jessica Stone, a one out intentional walk to Kourtney Thomas. Robinson struck again with a line drive three-run home run over the wall in right center.

Both teams left a combined 22 (13 GSU, 9 SU) runners stranded in the contest and tallied 16 (8 GSU, 8 SU) total hits.

Miranda and Dowdy each recorded multiple hit efforts in the game as Dowdy went 2 for 5 with a run scored and Miranda went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Dykes, Brister, Bickert and Adams each also recorded a hit in the effort.
 
The Bulldogs return to action as the No. 4 seed in the Southern Conference Championship Tournament on Wednesday, May 7, against No. 5 seed host institution UNCG at 4:30 p.m. CST.