BOX SCORE (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Samford softball team earned a 9-5 victory over Massachusetts in the consolation game of the Bulldog Slamboree, hosted by Mississippi State, Sunday afternoon at Nusz Park.
Shelby Maze was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for the Bulldogs.
Lauren Lewis drove in five runs, going 3-for-4 with a double.
Whitney Hinton homered for the second-straight game, driving in two runs, while
Hannah Trombley also drove in two runs for the Bulldogs.
Jessica Stone (2-2) pitched 4.0 innings, giving up four runs, just two earned on five hits to earn the win in the circle for Samford.
Taylor DeCelles started the game on the mound for Samford, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing just one unearned run on five hits.
UMass was led by Nicole Imhof, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Kaitlyn Stavinoha and Tara Klee added two hits each for the Minutewomen. Meg Colleran (1-7) took the loss for UMass, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits.
Samford jumped on top early with two runs in the top of the first inning. Lewis doubled to right field to drive in
Abby Sweeney and Maze for a 2-0 Samford advantage.
The Minutewomen came back with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Erin Stavevicz opened the inning by reaching base on a Samford error. She later scored on a wild pitch to cut the Samford lead to 2-1.
The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the third inning to push their lead to 3-1. Maze reached base on an infield single with one out. Maze later scored on a single by Trombley for a two-run Samford lead.
Samford pushed its lead to 5-1 with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Lewis singled to drive in Maze and
Madison Couch to stretch Samford's lead to four runs.
Massachusetts plated four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score at 5-5. Imhof singled to drive in Ashton Wince for the first run of the inning. The final three runs of the frame were scored off Samford errors.
The Bulldogs answered to take the lead again with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hinton hit a two-run home run to left field for the first two runs of the inning. Trombley walked with the bases loaded for an 8-5 Samford lead. Lewis later singled to drive in Maze for a 9-5 Bulldog advantage.
Samford improves to 6-14 with the win. UMass falls to 3-12 with the loss.
Samford will return to action on Saturday, March 11, when the Bulldogs begin play in the Choccolocco Classic in Oxford, Ala.
