CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Timely hitting powered the No. 2 Samford University softball team past No.7 East Tennessee State University 3-1 in the opening round of the Southern Conference Softball Tournament on Wednesday, May 6, at Frost Stadium.

The Bulldogs (33-20) opened up the scoring in the bottom fourth inning on a lead-off solo home run by junior Caroline Wilder. The All-SoCon First Team selection took the first pitch from Bucs starting pitcher Whitney Leon and sent it over the wall in left field.

Sophomore Abbie Miranda stretched out Samford's lead later in the inning on an RBI double that scored pinch runner Caroline Seay. Seay pinch ran for Hannah Taylor who reached via a single to left center.

The 2-0 lead gave sophomore starting pitcher Grey Adams (9-5) the cushion needed to secure the victory. The Fairhope, Alabama native went 4.1 innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

ETSU closed down SU's lead in the top of the fifth after stringing a pair of infield singles and an RBI single by Everett.

Adams was relieved by redshirt junior Mollie Hanson who then retired the Bucs to end the threat in the inning.

Hanson allowed only two hits over the next 2.2 inning of work with three strikeouts to pick her third save of the season.

The Bulldogs tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth via a sacrifice fly from Wilder that scored freshman Shelby Maze from third.

Wilder finished the game 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored while Taylor was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.

The Bulldogs will face the winner of No.3 Mercer/No.6 UNCG on Thursday, May 7, at 1 p.m. CST at Frost Stadium.