BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team squared-off against second place Western Carolina University and emerged with a split at the end of a doubleheader after the team took game one 9-1 in five innings before falling 6-4 late in game two on Saturday, April 16, at the Samford Softball Stadium.
The Bulldogs (25-17, 9-2 SoCon) exploded in the fifth inning of game one to down the Catamounts (30-16, 6-5 SoCon) 9-1 in five innings.
After being put up 2-1 on a two-run home run by senior
Callie Brister, the Bulldogs reeled off seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the first game of the series in convincing fashion.
It all started with senior
Megan Dowdy's triple down the right field line which was followed by a walk and a stolen base from sophomore
Shelby Maze.
Callie Brister grounded out to Karley Harkey at shortstop who checked Dowdy at third and prevented her from scoring but junior
Abbie Miranda drove home Dowdy on a similar shot to Harkey but this one was deep enough to where the only play was to throw out Miranda at first.
With a 3-1 lead and two outs on the board the Bulldogs proceeded to score six more runs off of Catamount starter Taylor Sigmon (11-10). Senior
Caitlin Bice drew her 30
th walk of the season which set the plate for junior
Abby Sweeney's RBI single that scored Maze. Sophomore
Karsin Spinks drew a two-out walk to load the bases for fellow sophomore
Lexie Higgins.
Higgins crushed her 7
th home run, which was also her 2
nd grand slam of the year, to clear the bases and give Samford a commanding 8-1 lead. Royalty kept the inning alive after reaching base on a throwing error by Sigmon from the circle which allowed Dowdy to put the game away with a game winning double to the gap in right center field.
Game one starter
Mollie Hanson (14-8) limited Western Carolina to just four hits, one of which was a solo home run from Abigail Daniels with two outs in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Catamounts the initial lead. Aside from that she recorded a pair of strikeouts and issued no walks on just 65 pitches.
Both the Bulldogs and the Catamounts fought back and forth in game two of the day. Samford jumped out on top first, 1-0, in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double from Dowdy off the wall in right field.
Western Carolina regained the lead in the fifth inning on a two-run home run from Crystal Cyr. Cyr scored Hunter Gibbons who reached base earlier via a walk from starter
Rebecca Leonard (2-2).
The lead changed again in the bottom of the sixth inning when Miranda came through with a clutch two-out, two RBI single up the middle that scored Dowdy and Higgins to give Samford the lead back 3-2.
The Catamounts clawed back into the ball game receiving back-to-back walks and a pair of wild pitches from Leonard to put runners on the corners with one out.
Grey Adams came in relief for Leonard and face off against Cyr. Cyr sent an RBI single up the middle to score pinch hitter Anna Hughey from third. From there Sigmon roped a double to the gap in right center field to clear the bases and eventually score herself on defensive error by the Bulldogs to give WCU a 6-3 lead.
Sweeney made one last attempt in the seventh inning to rally the Samford offense as she tattooed a solo home run to straight-away center field to start the inning. Afterwards, Catamount starter Courtney Buchanan (12-3) was relieved from her pitching duties by Sigmon. Sigmon closed the door and picked up her 7
th save on the season.
Samford and Western Carolina will play a rubber match on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. Also, this Sunday's game is our "Player Meet & Greet" game! Following the game, kids can run the bases, meet the players, and get a signed team poster. So Make sure you join us this tomorrow!
