AUBURN, Ala. – Junior Caroline Wilder, with a 1-2 count against her, tripled down the right field line to score fellow juniors Callie Brister and Caitlin Bice to secure a 2-1 victory for the Samford University softball team over Texas State University on Friday, Feb. 27, at Jane B. Moore Field in the Wilson-DeMarini Classic.

The triple by Wilder put the Bulldogs (13-2) in the lead after the Bobcats (9-10) took the initial lead in the game in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Courtney Harris.

"Wilder had a great at bat in a clutch situation," Samford head coach Mandy Burford said. "Callie and Bice set the table by getting on base with a couple of ground balls through the holes."

That would be all of the runs scored in the game as redshirt junior Mollie Hanson (7-1) and freshman Randi Rupp (7-1) battled it out in the circle for the rest of the night.

"Mollie pitched really well in every situation tonight." Burford said. "The leadoff batter reached base the first four innings and we worked out of each jam with only giving up one run. Rupp is really good, especially for a freshman in the cold weather. She was spot on with making us chase her pitches once we fell behind in the count and didn't miss with her pitches on the plate; she hit the corners really well."

Hanson finished the complete-game effort with six strikeouts and two walk while only giving up five hits to the Texas State offense. Rupp posted equally impressive numbers as she fanned 11 Samford batters with only three walks and six hits given up.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28, with a pair of contests against SIU-Edwardsville at 2:30 p.m. and Ohio State at 7:15 p.m. to continue play in the Wilson-DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn University at Jane B. Moore Field.