GULF SHORES, Ala. – Two five run innings by the Samford University softball team alongside a stout pitching performance by junior Jessica Stone and freshman Annalyn Yantis propelled the Bulldogs to a 10-1 victory over Belmont University on Sunday, Feb. 14, in the final contest of the Sand Dollar Classic.

"Today was our best day of the weekend, it was the first time we started putting all of it together." Head Coach Mandy Burford said. "Jessica Stone pitched really well all weekend. She did an excellent job of limiting balls left over the plate to where we could make the outs defensively."

Stone (1-1) pitched four complete innings in the contest and limited the Bruins to just three hits and one earned run, which Belmont scored in the bottom of the first, against 17 batters faced. The Moody, Alabama native threw 13 innings over the weekend and finished with a 2.15 ERA.

"As a team we did well, Boo (Hannah Trombley) did a great job behind the plate and we had to battle through some tough situations but I trusted the defense and they came through." Jessica Stone added.

The Samford offense came alive truly for the first time of the season in the top of the second inning. Lexie Higgins scored Callie Brister on an RBI single to tie the contest and an RBI base hit from Megan Dowdy to score Higgins gave Samford a 2-1 edge but it wasn't until sophomore Shelby Maze hit her first career home run that the Bulldogs really rallied offensively.

 "Shelby Maze did amazing this weekend. You know that she is going to figure out a way to get on base then figure out a way to steal second and that inside the park home run today was just icing on the cake." Burford stated. "She's a hard worker, never complains and I'm just glad to see all of that hard work pay off over the weekend."

Maze ended the weekend hitting .412 at the plate going 7-for-17 with four runs scored and three RBI which included going 3-for-3 on stolen bases and her inside the park home run.

"Coach Mandy called a hit and run so I was really just trying to do my job and get Meg (Dowdy) over." Shelby Maze said. "We needed to score some more runs so I went after the first pitch and it was up and out, trying to do what I can to help the team out and it was a big two runs."

The Samford defense only committed three errors in 96 putouts over the weekend which tallied out to a .977 fielding percentage. It was a staple of the weekend that coach Burford really though the team strived to be great at but there are still other aspects of the game to build and improve on.

"Great defense, I thought we played pretty solid. No complaints with the defense moving into this next week. We just have to make better adjustments at the plate, be smarter at the plate and hope the pitchers keep hitting their spots."

Senior Megan Dowdy recorded a 3-for-4 performance at the plate today with a pair of RBI and two runs scored against Belmont.

Samford returns to action next weekend when they travel down to Mobile, Alabama to compete in the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational.