MOBILE, Ala. – The Samford University softball team split during the second day of the Mardi Gras Invitational with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Southern Mississippi but then rebounded to defeat No. 23 South Alabama 8-5. The win against the 23^rd-ranked Jaguars was the first victory against a Top 25 team for the program.

"The win over South (Alabama) was good for our program." Head Coach Mandy Burford said. "They contend year in and year out for the Sun Belt title and are a staple at the NCAA Regionals each year. They are never out of a game."

"My hopes are to continue playing well as a team while learning from each outing."

The Bulldogs (4-4) received outstanding pitching from junior Jessica Stone (2-1) the entire day as she tossed 13.2 innings without allowing a single earned run. The Moody, Ala. native dispersed 17 total hits while recording a pair of strikeouts and walks.

"Stone has performed to my expectations." Burford continued. "The first two weekends are what was envisioned when we recruited her out of high school. I am hoping that she can continue to get better with each outing."

In the batter's box it was sophomore Lexi Higgins who came out of nowhere to lead the way. Higgins ended the day hitting .714 going 5 for 7 at the plate with four RBIs and a run scored. The Oxford, Alabama native hit a double, triple and a home run through the two-game span for 11 total bases and a slugging percentage of 1.571.

No bigger hit came for Higgins than the one she belted in the top of the 5th inning as she smashed a grand slam home run out to left field that gave the Bulldogs back the lead 7-5 over the No. 23 Jags (5-2).

Junior Abbie Miranda capped off the scoring effort with a solo home run in the top of the 6^th inning to make the score 8-5.

The Jaguars dropped early in the contest 3-0 thanks to a pair of runs scored by senior Megan Dowdy in the 1^st and 2^nd inning and a stolen base that resulted in a throwing error back to home on which pinch runner Madison Couch scored on in the 4^th.

In the first game of the day Samford jumped out to a 3-0 lead over the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the 6^th inning thanks to an RBI single by Callie Brister and a two-run home run by freshman catcher Hannah Trombley. Which so happened to be Trombley's second in as many games.

Southern Miss stormed back in the top of the final inning of play after redshirt senior Mollie Hanson came into the game. Hanson uncharacteristically opened the inning with a walk which was followed by a single to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs.

Miranda hauled in a popup for the first out but the Golden Eagles ripped another single off Hanson which she followed up by issuing another walk to give USM its' first run of the game. With the bases loaded and the score 3-1 in favor of Samford, Hanson hit Evans with the next pitch to close down the lead to 3-2.

Stone promptly returned to the circle and gave up a single which put Southern Miss on top by the deciding score of 4-3.

Miranda finished the day going 3 for 7 (.429) from the plate with a home run while Trombley and Dowdy went 2 for 6 with each scoring a pair of runs on top of Trombley's two RBIs.

The Bulldogs will face Mississippi State on the final day of competition at the Mardi Gras Classic on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 12:15 p.m.