MACON, Ga. – Redshirt senior
Mollie Hanson led the Samford University softball team to a pair of wins over Mercer University to open up Southern Conference play at Sikes Field on Friday, March 25. Hanson finished the evening with 14.0 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts to only three walks.
In the initial game of the twin bill, the Bulldogs (17-14, 2-0 SoCon) received a solid performance from Hanson. The Dothan, Ala. native recorded five strikeouts and held the Mercer (16-18, 0-2 SoCon) offense to just six runs, three earned, on six hits and a pair of walks.
The impressive outing included limiting the top of the Mercer order to just two runs and walk while they went 0-for-15 at the plate. The top four batters of the lineup also received all five of Hanson's strikeouts.
In the second game Hanson only grew stronger has she held the Mercer offense to just one run, which they scored in the bottom of the first on a solo home run, while striking out nine with only one walk.
Samford jumped out front early in the top of the first inning thanks to a three-run home run from freshman
Hannah Trombley. Trombley's seventh home run of the season scored senior
Caitlin Bice and sophomore
Shelby Maze and gave Samford a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs lead was short lived as the Bears tied the game up 3-3 with their own three-run home run off the bat of Quirisa Mauga.
The offense went back to work in the top of the second inning to regain the lead with four runs on a trio of hits. Bice reached on a fielder's choice to drive in freshman Kelsey
Royalty. Royalty beat the close play at the plate and dislodged the ball which allowed Dowdy to score as well. With the run scored by Dowdy she etched her name atop the Samford record book with 108 runs scored, the previous record was held by former shortstop
Abby Adams (2012-2015).
Abbie Miranda drove in
Callie Brister on an RBI single while junior
Abby Sweeney brought home Bice on SAC fly to left field.
The Bears put their foot on the gas in the sixth inning as they climbed back to within a run to make the score 7-6. Pinch hitter Taylor Rodgers smacked a double to center field to unload the bases that scored the trio of Mercer base runners.
Samford put the game away in the top of the seventh thanks to four runs on three hits and a Mercer error. The highlight of the inning on a Maze two-RBI double to center field that scored Dowdy and Royalty.
Brister put the Bulldogs out on top in the second game of the day with a solo home run in the top of the first inning but the Bears responded to produce a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game.
Miranda broke the tie the very next inning with her fourth home run of the season to give Samford the 2-1 edge.
It wasn't until the top of the fourth that the Bulldogs gained separation from the Bears as Samford produced four runs on just four hits. Miranda pushed Bice across home plate with an RBI single while Higgins knocked an RBI single down the right field line.
Dowdy capped off the scoring effort with a two-RBI double to right center to bring the score to 6-1.
Miranda finished the game perfect from the plate going 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored which included a home run and walk.
The Bulldogs return to action tomorrow at noon (CST) to face Mercer in the final game of the series at Sikes Field.
