BOX SCORE (PDF)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Samford softball team completed a series sweep of Chattanooga with an 11-6 win in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at Frost Stadium.
With the score tied at 6-6 in the top of the 10th inning, Abby Sweeney singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Shelby Maze, who had been placed on second base to start the inning. Sweeney later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hannah Trombley for an 8-6 lead. Lexie Higgins then walked with the bases loaded to drive in Abbie Miranda to make the score 9-6. Taylor DeCelles then singled to right-center field to drive in Rebecca Leonard and Madison Couch for an 11-6 Samford advantage.
DeCelles (2-7), who also earned the win in the circle for Samford, retired Chattanooga in order in the bottom of the 10th inning to secure the win. DeCelles pitched 3.0 innings, giving up no runs on just one hit.
For Samford at the plate, Maze, Couch and DeCelles had three hits each. Miranda, Trombley and Kathryn Jackson had two hits each for the Bulldogs.
Chattanooga was led by J.J. Hamill and Jesslyn Stockard, who both homered in a pair of 2-for-5 performances. Maddy Adams (1-1) took the loss in the circle, pitching 6.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits.
Samford put the first run on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning. Couch doubled to lead off the inning. Trombley then doubled to drive in Couch for a 1-0 Samford lead.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 2-0 with a run in the top of the third inning. Miranda singled with one out to get things started. Miranda later scored on a Chattanooga error for a two-run Samford lead.
Chattanooga came back to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hamill homered to left field with Alyssa Coppinger on base to knot the score at 2-2.
Samford took control of the game with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, and runners on second and third, Miranda singled to left field, scoring Maze and Whitney Hinton, and Miranda came around to score on a Chattanooga error. Trombley later singled to drive in Couch for a 6-2 Samford lead.
Chattanooga added one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Samford lead to 6-3. Amanda Beltran doubled to drive in Ashley Conner to bring the Mocs to within three runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Stockard hit a three-run home run with Conner and Aly Walker on base to tie the score at 6-6 and force extra innings.
With the win, Samford improves to 14-24 overall and 4-2 in Southern Conference play. Sunday's game was Samford's ninth extra-inning game of the season, with the Bulldogs posting a 2-7 record in those contests. Chattanooga falls to 11-25 overall and 1-5 in league play.
Samford will step out of conference play to host fifth-ranked Auburn Wednesday night at Spain Park High School. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. To purchase tickets, click on the following link: SAMFORD VS. AUBURN SOFTBALL TICKETS.
