TROY, Ala. – The Samford University softball team squared off against in-state foe Troy University on Wednesday, April 13, and outlasted the Trojans 8-6 on a rainy day at the Troy Softball Complex. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Trojans that dated back to 2006.

"I think it's important for us to play in-state competition, especially for midweeks." Head Coach Mandy Buford said. "It creates great rivalries and we all watch these same kids on travel ball teams growing up so it's nice getting to see them develop throughout their college career."

The Bulldogs (24-16) jumped out on top early 2-0 thanks to an RBI single from Abbie Miranda and a RBI fielder's choice to third from Abby Sweeney when the bases were loaded.

Troy (25-15) responded in the bottom of the third inning of play and closed down the lead to 2-1 when Hannah Day scored Kate Benton on an RBI single up the middle of the Samford defense.

With the rain beginning to dampen the conditions, the Bulldogs struck for four runs to extend the lead out to 6-1 over the Trojans. Sophomore Lexie Higgins jumpstarted the inning with a solo home run to right field. Higgins didn't waste any time at the plate in the at-bat as she crushed the first pitch off of Troy starter Claire Graves.

With two outs sophomore Shelby Maze again played the role of a catalyst to keep the inning alive for the Samford offense. Maze legged out a two-out single to Becca Hartley at shortstop and immediately stole second before being brought home on Callie Brister's RBI triple to deep right center field.

Miranda followed up Brister with her second RBI single of the game and in turn was pushed across home plate by a double from senior Caitlin Bice.

Starter Mollie Hanson pitched five solid innings and kept a stout Trojan offense off-balance for a majority of the contest. Troy rallied and strung together six hits and scored five runs to tie the game before junior Rebecca Leonard was called in-relief for the Dothan, Alabama native.

Leonard pitched out of the jam to end the sixth and shut down the Trojan comeback to seal the victory for the Bulldogs in the seventh to earn her second win of the season.

Samford responded in the seventh with several hard hit balls from Sweeney and Karsin Spinks along with a critical walk by Higgins loaded the bases for freshman pinch hitter Annalyn Yantis.

Yantis drove the 0-1 pitch from Meg Willis right up the gut of the Trojan defense to score the deciding pair of Samford runs.

Maze ended the day 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored and a walk while Miranda finished 2-for-3 with the two RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Higgins was 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a pair of walks.

The Bulldogs return to Southern Conference action this weekend as the team welcomes Western Carolina University to the Samford University Softball Stadium on Saturday and Sunday with games slated to start both days at 1 p.m.