JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The Samford University softball team split a doubleheader with Jacksonville State University with a 4-3 victory in game one before the team dropped game two 8-4 on Saturday, March 5. Mollie Hanson picked up her 55th career victory to become Samford's all-time career wins leader that was previously held by Brianne Mertens from 2008-2011.

The Bulldogs (10-7) snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Gamecocks (8-9) in the first game of the doubleheader thanks to a gritty pitching performance from Mollie Hanson (6-3). The Dothan, Alabama native fell behind early and allowed three runs on five hits in the bottom of the 1^st but rebounded to limit Jacksonville State to just three hits the remaining six innings.

With Hanson steady in the circle the Samford offense chipped away at the JSU lead. The comeback was initiated in the top of the 3^rd when senior Callie Brister turned on the first pitch from Kirsten Titus and sent it over the scoreboard in left field to close down the Gamecock lead to 3-1.

Samford struck again in the bottom of the 6^th inning when sophomore Shelby Maze sprinted home from third on a pitch in the dirt from Titus. Senior Caitlin Bice knotted the score at 3-3 with a SAC fly to the wall in right field that scored Abbie Miranda.

It was Bice again that came through for the Bulldogs, this time in the top of the 7^th inning with two outs on the board. The Chelsea, Alabama native drew an RBI walk from relief pitcher Casey Akenberger (2-2) to push across pinch runner Madison Couch and give Samford the permanent lead.

Hanson shut the door on the Gamecocks as she retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame.

The two teams battled in the final game of the day at University Field but this time the Gamecocks bounced back behind Casey Akenberger (3-2) in the circle and on the bats of Stephanie Lewis and Emily Church.

The duo of Lewis and Church accounted for 7 of Jacksonville States 8 runs in the contest. Lewis went 2 for 4 at the dish with a double, home run and four RBIs while Church blasted a pair of home runs for a trio of RBIs.

Senior Caitlin Bice continued to the main driving force of production for the Samford offense as she went 3 for 4 in the contest with a double, a home run and three RBIs.

Abby Sweeney and Megan Dowdy both went 2 for 3 at the plate with Sweeney accounting for the other Bulldog RBI.

Samford and Jacksonville State will square off in the rubber match in Birmingham on the campus of Samford tomorrow at noon.