BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team opened up SoCon play with a pair of victories, via game-winning hits,  over Furman University on Saturday, March 21, at the Samford Softball Field. Samford won 4-2 in game one and 1-0 in game two of the doubleheader.

Redshirt Junior Mollie Hanson (11-5) pitched two complete-game victories to start the Bulldogs (20-10) out 2-0 in SoCon play. Hanson pitch back-to-back games for 14 innings and only allowed two runs on six hits.

The Dothan, Ala. native kept the Paladins (14-12) off balance in game one and only allowed two runs on four hits; the two runs scored on leadoff home runs by Sieara Bishop and Taylor Jenkins. Hanson only grew stronger over the last 10 innings she pitched as the Paladins only managed three hits, two walks and a hit batter for the rest of the day. She finished the impressive outing with 11 total strikeouts, two walks and threw 190 pitches over 14 innings of work.

"Mollie threw fourteen great innings and I felt like innings ten through fourteen were her strongest." Samford head coach Mandy Burford said. "We had a couple other pitchers ready in relief and I said if we get in trouble here or we get in trouble there, then I was going to be ready to make the pull because she had been throwing for so long but every time I did that, she struck out the next batter. She's just one of those competitors and one of those fighters."

It was junior Megan Dowdy who set the table at the plate for the Bulldogs as she went 3 for 3 in game one with a walk while also going 1 for 3 in game two. The Fairhope, Ala. native scored two of Samford's four runs in game one of the day. Dowdy's performance in game one was her 16^th multiple hit game of the season.

"She hit it hard every single time today." Burford said. "When she (Dowdy) sets the tone in the leadoff spot then it trickles down to everyone else on the team and they know that if Dowdy can get on then that they can too."

After only scoring one run in the top of the first inning of game one the Bulldogs offense struggled  to string together hits against Furman's freshman pitcher Lindsey Bert (10-5). Samford, down 2-1, loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth but left everyone stranded after senior Abby Adams flied out foul over the bullpen wall to left fielder Courtney Jacobs.

Samford bounced back in the bottom of the seventh when Caroline Wilder legged out a single hit to Bishop at shortstop with two outs. Dowdy kept the inning alive with a single to left field and set up sophomore Abbie Miranda with a chance to end the game. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama native sat in the box with a 1-0 count and blasted Bert's pitch over the wall in center field for the game-winning hit.

It was another pitching duel in game two as Hanson squared off against Furman's Alex Sappington. Hanson and Sappington went battled it out in the circle all the way to the bottom of the seventh when Samford struck again with another game-winning hit. Wilder who initiated the rally in game one slapped a shot up the middle to score pinch runner Caroline Seay from third.

The rally started after sophomore Abby Sweeney reached base with a leadoff single up the middle and was followed with a sharply hit double down the left field line by Caitlin Bice.

The Bulldogs and the Paladins are scheduled to conclude their three-game series on Sunday, March 22, at the Samford Softball Field with first-pitch set for 1 p.m.