BOX SCORE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford softball team grabbed an early lead, but a seven-run third inning lifted Fort Wayne to an 11-7 victory over the Bulldogs Tuesday at the Samford Softball Field.
 
For Samford in the loss, Whitney Hinton went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Kathryn Jackson also homered, driving in three runs in a 1-for-2 performance. Ryan Brzozoski went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. McKenna Gillespie (0-6) pitched 2.0 innings, giving up five runs on five hits to take the loss for the Bulldogs.
 
For Fort Wayne, Morganne Denny went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Lacey Wilzbacher went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Lauren Watson also went 2-for-4. Brooke Imel drove in four runs in a 1-for-3 performance. Shaina Eyre tossed 3.0 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits to pick up the win.
 
After Fort Wayne grabbed the lead with a run in the top of the first inning, Samford came back to take a 3-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jackson hit a three-run homer to left field to give Samford the lead.
 
Fort Wayne, however took control of the game with seven runs in the top of the third inning. The Mastodons collected seven hits in the inning and sent 11 batters to the plate as they grabbed an 8-3 lead.
 
Samford cut the lead to 8-4 with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Fort Wayne plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 11-4. Hinton hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for Samford to make the final score 11-7.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 3-15 on the season. Fort Wayne improves to 8-12 with the win.
 
Samford will host Alabama State in a doubleheader Wednesday. The first game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start from the Samford Softball Field. Admission to the doubleheader is FREE!