BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford softball team dropped an 8-1 decision to No. 12 Alabama Tuesday night at the Samford Softball Stadium.
 
For Samford in the loss, Lexie Higgins went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Kathryn Jackson also went 1-for-2 at the plate for the Bulldogs. Rebecca Leonard (1-6) took the loss in the circle, tossing 1.0 inning, giving up four runs on two hits. Taylor DeCelles and Jessica Stone also saw time in the circle for Samford.
 
Alabama was led at the plate by Bailey Hemphill, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. Reagan Dykes also homered for the Crimson Tide, going 1-for-2 with three RBI. Elissa Brown and Chandler Dare had two hits each for Alabama. Madi Moore (6-1) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up one run on two hits to earn the win the circle for the Crimson Tide.
 
Alabama jumped on top quickly with four runs in the top of the first inning. Hemphill singled to left field to drive in Brown for the game's first run. Dykes later hit a three-run home run to left field for a 4-0 Alabama advantage.
 
The Crimson Tide added three runs in the second inning to push their lead to 7-0. Hemphill hit a three-run home run to left-center field to give Alabama a seven-run advantage.
 
Samford plated its run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the Alabama lead to 7-1. With one out in the inning, Hannah Trombley walked, and later advanced to second base on a wild pitch. With two outs, Higgins doubled to right field to drive in Trombley for Samford's lone run of the game.
 
Alabama added a run in the top of the sixth inning to make the final score 8-1. With two outs, Brown singled up the middle. She later scored on a Samford error for the game's final run.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 21-30 overall. Alabama improves to 38-11 with the win.
 
Samford will play a doubleheader at Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for a 2 p.m. (CT) start.