UIC BOX SCORE (PDF)

EVANSVILLE BOX SCORE (PDF)

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Samford softball team dropped a pair of games at the Mardi Gras Classic Friday. The Bulldogs fell to Illinois-Chicago, 11-1 at Lamson Park, and then to Evansville, 14-6 at Rebels Park.
 
I the loss to UIC, Ryan Brzozoski, Shelby Maze, Kelsey Royalty and Mekhi Mayfield had one hit each. Madison Couch drove in the team's lone run of the contest on a fielder's choice.
 
Taylor DeCelles (0-1) took the loss, tossing two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs on four hits. Annalyn Yantis and Emily Barnett also saw time in the circle for the Bulldogs.
 
For UIC, Lexi Watts went 5-for-5 with a triple and an RBI. Kayla Wedl homered, driving in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance. Karissa Frazier (1-0) pitched the complete 7.0 innings, giving up one run on four hits to earn the win for the Flames.
 
Illinois-Chicago jumped on top early with four runs in the first inning, one in the second and another in the third to take a 6-0 lead. UIC then plated a run in the fifth inning and another in the sixth to push its lead to 8-0.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Samford plated its lone run of the game to cut the lead to 8-1. Brzozoski reached on an infield single to lead off the inning. She later scored from third base when Couch reached base on a fielder's choice. UIC added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the final score 11-1.
 
In the afternoon contest against Evansville, Samford was led by Couch, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Mekhi Mayfield also homered for the Bulldogs, going 1-for-4 at the plate. Ashlyn Barnes had three hits and Shelby Maze added two hits for the Bulldogs.
 
McKenna Gillespie (0-1) pitched 2.2 innings, giving up five runs on five hits to take the loss. Yantis and DeCelles also pitched in the game for Samford.
 
For Evansville, Lindsay Renneisen, Eryn Gould, Alex Latoria, Brittany Hay and Bailee Porter each homered. Ashleigh Downing (1-0) tossed 4.2 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits to pick up the win in the circle.
 
Evansville plated one run in the first inning, four runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Samford got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Mayfield led the inning off with a solo home run to cut the lead to 8-1.
 
Both teams scored two runs in the fifth inning and three each in the sixth to make the score 13-6. Evansville added one final run in the top of the seventh inning to make the final score 14-6.
 
With the losses, Samford falls to 0-3 so far this season. Illinois-Chicago improves to 1-1, while Evansville is now 1-0.
 
Samford will conclude play in the Mardi Gras Classic by taking on Eastern Illinois Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start.  
 
SAMFORD'S REMAINING GAMES IN MARDI GRAS CLASSIC
Saturday, Feb. 10
Samford vs. Eastern Illinois, 9 a.m.: Live Stats