Bulldogs-Bears Split SoCon Opening Twinbill 10-0, 1-6

Friday, March 26

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 PM

Samford University

11-14, 1-0

Mercer

12-13, 0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mercer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Samford	1	2	0	1	3	3	10	12	0

BOX SCORE (PDF)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mercer	0	2	0	0	0	4	0	6	8	0
Samford	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	1

Bulldogs-Bears Split SoCon Opening Twinbill 10-0, 1-6

3.26.21 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

BOX SCORE: GAME ONE (PDF)
BOX SCORE: GAME TWO (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team split the opening doubleheader of Southern Conference play with Mercer University claiming a 10-0 run-rule victory before falling 6-1 in the nightcap on Friday, March 26 at Samford Softball Field. The Bulldogs (11-15, 1-1 SoCon) and Bears (13-13, 1-1 SoCon) will conclude the series on Saturday, March 27 at 1 PM. Complete coverage will be provided on ESPN+.

THE BASICS
GM 1 Final: Samford 10 | Mercer 0 (6)
GM 2 Final: Mercer 6 | Samford 1
Records: Samford (11-14, 1-0 SoCon) | Mercer (12-13, 0-1 SoCon)
Date/Time: Friday, Mar. 26 | 2:00 p.m. | 4:14 PM
Location: Samford Softball Field
Attendance: 176

HOW IT HAPPENED | GM1

Samford took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Whitney Hinton smashed a solo home run to right-center. It was her fourth home run of the season.
After the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, Timberlyn Shurbutt's sac-fly to left put Samford up 2-0. Amanda Briskin's double to center tacked on a run and extended the lead to 3-0.
Hinton's second home run of the day and her fifth of the season extended Samford's lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
Samford used the long ball again in the bottom of the fifth, as Mekhi Mayfield smashed a three-run home run over the left-centerfield wall to give the Bulldogs a commanding 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Grace Robertson blasted a three-run home run to left to give the Bulldogs the 10-0 run-rule victory.
Samford finished the game with 10 runs on 12 hits while Mercer had zero runs on a pair of hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED | GM2

Annie Potter's bases clearing triple in the top of the second gave Mercer the early 2-0 lead. The extra base hit scored Madison Headley, who singled, and Adele Braun, who was hit by a pitch.
Hinton cut the deficit to one run, 2-1, with her third solo home run of the day against the Bears. The blast was her sixth of the season.
After loading the bases in the top of the sixth, Diamond Williams delivered a two-RBI pinch-hit single to extend the Bears' lead to 4-1. Annie Potter and Elisa Rosado followed with back-to-back RBI singles to extend the deficit to five runs, 6-1 at the end of the inning.

IN THE CIRCLE:

Emily Barnett (5-4) pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout. The righthander worked 6.0 innings allowing two hits with six strikeouts. Mercer's Madi Joice (4-4) took the loss after giving up 10 runs on 12 hits including four home runs.
In game two, Taylor DeCelles (1-5) took the loss for Samford after allowing four runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work. Abby Swaney tossed the final 2.0 innings for Samford.
Ashlynn Donner (4-3) picked up the victory for Mercer. The sophomore worked a complete game while allowing a run on five hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts.

NOTABLES:

Samford smashed four home runs in game one with Whitney Hinton connecting on two solo shots and Mekhi Mayfield and Grace Robertson, who finished the game 3-for-3, drilling three-run home runs each.
In game two, Hinton slapped her third home run of the series.

UP NEXT:

The Bulldogs will close out the series against Mercer University with a single game on Sunday, Mar. 27. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Samford Softball Field.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @SamfordSB (Instagram).