CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Samford University softball team bowed out of the Southern Conference Championship Tournament after falling 2-0 to Mercer University and 6-3 in a heartbreaking loss to Furman University in the final game of the day on Thursday, May 7, at Frost Stadium.
Samford (33-22) battled the Bears (36-20) for a chance to take on host institution Chattanooga in the next round of the winners bracket but runs were hard to come by from either team in a pitcher's duel between redshirt junior Mollie Hason (19-12) and MU pitcher Kirsten Stevens (25-8).
Mercer broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when Caroline Taylor ripped a shot down the third base line. Hanson would hit the next two MU batters to load the bases for Emma Andrew. Hanson struck out Andrew but lead-off batter Taylor Miller hit a clutch shot up the middle for a two RBI single.
That single turned out to be the difference in the game as both Hanson and Stevens settled into a battle where each held the other team scoreless for the next five innings.
The Bulldogs pressured Stevens in the top of the fifth and sixth innings to put runners in scoring position but came away empty in the effort.
The loss forced Samford to play in an elimination game against Furman in a nightcap. Hanson received the call to toss from the circle against FU's freshman Lindsey Bert.
Hanson pitched a gem for six complete innings and allowed the Bulldogs offense to gain a 3-0 lead over the Paladins.
FU didn't buckle to the pressure with time winding down in the seventh. The Paladins struck for six runs on five hits and a pair of Samford errors in the inning to take a 6-3 lead over SU.
Sieara Bishop connected on a grand slam with the score at 3-2 to take the momentum for the Paladins.
Caroline Wilder was the most productive batter on the day going 4-for-7 (.571) while sophomore
Abbie Miranda followed up with a 3-for-6 performance with a pair of doubles.
Junior
Megan Dowdy was 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles and set the Samford career-record for most hits with 192. Jessica Owens held the previous record with 190 career-hits from 2006-2009.