BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team went back to its exciting ways as the team recoded a pair of victories, 4-2 and 5-4, over Middle Tennessee State University in thrilling fashion on Thursday, April 23, to end its regular season home schedule.

The Bulldogs (30-19) reached the 30 win mark for the second-consecutive season; the first time the program has done so in its 28 year history.

Samford achieved the feat through winning 16 of its' 23 scheduled home and winning every SoCon series at the Samford Softball Field aside from the Mercer series on April 18 and 19.

Megan Dowdy, Abby Sweeney, Mollie Hanson and Grey Adams all shined in the final pair of games held at home this season. Dowdy and Sweeney combined for nine of the Bulldogs 20 hits on the day with Sweeney going 4-for-7 with four RBIs, one run scored and a two run home run in the fifth inning of game one to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead over the Blue Raiders.

Dowdy notched a 5-for-8 day at the plate with a pair of runs scored. The Fairhope, Alabama native already holds the new single-season record for hits with 78 but is now just five hits shy of the all-time hits record set by Jessica Owens from 2006-2009.

Hanson (17-9) went the distance for the 15^th time this season in game one. The Dothan, Alabama native scattered six hits and struck out six Blue Raiders while not issuing any walks. The only damage done by MTSU in the first game came in the top of the fourth when Morgan Harris recorded a two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead over SU.

The Blue Raiders jumped out early 2-0 in game two versus the Bulldogs but Samford chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Abby Adams scored on a double from junior Callie Brister to close down the MTSU lead to 2-1.

Middle Tennessee State extended its lead back out to 4-1 in the top of the third on Harris second home run of the day and an RBI double from Kristin Uselton.

Dowdy and Sweeney brought Samford to a 4-2 score after Sweeney scored Dowdy on an RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the third.

Grey Adams (8-5) was brought in to relieve Jessica Stone from her duties in the circle by the fourth inning. The Fairhope, Alabama native shut the door on MTSU's offense and limited them to just two hits and an intentional walk through the next five innings of play. Adams recorded a career-tying nine strikeouts in her last outing and nearly matched that in her relief appearance with seven.

The Bulldogs evened the score 4-4 in the fifth on a Caitlin Bice two-run home run that hit the top of the scoreboard in right field.

With the bases loaded, sophomore Abbie Miranda put the game away with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Abby Adams from third. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama native was merely a few feet from ending the game with a grand slam.

The Bulldogs will have the weekend off from Southern Conference action and will resume play on May 2-3, when the team travels to Chattanooga, Tennessee to take on the UT-Chattanooga Mocs.