BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  The Samford University softball team almost pulled off another thriller against Furman University but fell just short 11-9 in the contest on Sunday, March 22, at the Samford Softball Field.

The Bulldogs (20-11, 2-1 SoCon) clinched the series with a pair of game-winning hits the day before to take the doubleheader sweep of the Paladins (15-12, 1-2 SoCon) but the late inning heroics came up just short on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Both teams combined for a total of 13 runs over the last three innings of play with 10 coming in the ninth inning alone. The Paladins surged to take a 5-4 lead over the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh thanks to a Sieara Bishop two-run home run but SU's Caroline Wilder sent the game into extra innings with her solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

Furman's offense exploded in the top of the ninth after an eerily quiet eighth inning for both the Paladins and the Bulldogs; FU plated six runs to go up 11-5 on Samford in the inning.

With a multitude of comeback victories and game-winning hits Samford felt up to the challenge to do it yet again. Sophomore Abby Sweeney crushed her second home run of the game to spark the Bulldog offense and close down the Paladins lead to 11-6. From there freshman Karsin Spinks single, Abby Adams walked and Megan Dowdy had a base hit to load the bases for Samford with only one out.

FU starting pitcher Lindsey Bert was a little banged up from day one but continued to pitch until sophomore Abbie Miranda hit an RBI single up the middle to bring the score to 11-7.

With heavy rain approaching fast and the bases still loaded, the Paladins called in Alex Sappington to relieve Bert from the circle. Sappington immediately issued a walk to freshman Shelby Maze to bring the score to 11-8 before she forced Callie Brister to pop up for the second out of the inning.

In pouring rain junior Caitlin Bice kept the inning alive with an RBI walk that closed the Paladin lead down to 11-9 and put the tying run into scoring position at second.

An official delay was called due to rain right as Sweeney stepped into the box for her second at-bat of the inning; the delay lasted approximately one hour and two minutes. Sweeney eventually drew a 3-2 count and ripped a line drive right back to Sappington who caught the ball for the final out of the game.

Sweeney finished the game 3 for 5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored to lead Samford's offense. Dowdy recorded her 17^th multiple hit game of the season going 2 for 5 at the plate with a pair of runs scored.

Bert was the Paladins offensive catalyst as she went a near perfect 4 for 5 with two runs scored while also pitched eight and a third innings with four strikeouts and four walks.

The Bulldogs return to action for a mid-week doubleheader on the road in Clarksville, Tennessee against Austin Peay. Play for game one is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.