Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Samford softball team found its first two wins of the season after a dominant 9-0 run-rule victory over Saint Louis followed by a 10-6 win over Southern Miss Saturday afternoon in Hattiesburg.
 
BOX SCORE: GAME ONE (PDF)
BOX SCORE: GAME TWO (PDF)
 
GAME 1
Final: Saint Louis 0 | Samford 9
 
Samford took the first game in day two of the Black and Gold Invite in run-rule fashion, bouncing back for a 9-0 victory over Saint Louis with eight different Bulldogs locking in runs.
 
Senior Kolby Holcombe got the scoring started for Samford in the top of the second after she ripped one up center field to plate freshman McKayla Cothran from third base. Fellow senior Amanda Briskin followed up with an RBI single of her own just three plays later, bringing home Holcombe prior to sophomore Jordan Moore landing her first run of the day on a SLU wild pitch.
 
With the bases loaded, Saint Louis's Calli Sutcliffe walked junior Grace Robertson, allowing freshman Sarah Squillace to cross home plate. The Bulldogs extended their lead by two runs, capitalizing off two Billiken wild pitches for a dominant 6-0 lead. The final run of the inning would come after Kolby Holcombe secured her second RBI of the day with a knock to right field to plate Robertson.
 
Samford pushed the lead to 8-0 in the top of the third after Merritt Cahoon singled to center on a 2-2 count with two outs on the board to score Mary Katherine Tedder. After a quick bottom on the third, the Bulldogs quickly found themselves with bases loaded in the top of the fourth after two fielding errors from Saint Louis and a double to center field from Kolby Holcombe. MK Tedder battled at the plate, earning a walk from Chloe Wendling in the circle to bring home Jordan Moore to lock in a 9-0 victory over the Billikens.
 
Freshman McKenzie Newcomb earned her first win of the season, throwing her second complete going for Samford in the circle. Newcomb struck out 10 of the 18 batters she faced, while allowing no runs and just three hits.
 
GAME 2
Final: Samford 10 | Southern Miss 6
 
The Bulldogs turned around for a game two matchup with Southern Miss, topping the Golden Eagles by a 10-6 final decision. The win marked Samford's eighth win over USM and second of the season.
 
It was a quick start for the Bulldog offense with two runs in the top of the first, powered by an RBI triple from senior Timberlyn Shurbutt and an RBI single from junior Merritt Cahoon. Southern Miss responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run of its own after Alexis Dittmer executed a sacrifice fly to bring in Alyssa Davis.
 
Freshman Sarah Squillace added another run to the scoresheet for Samford, smacking a ball up through center field to drive in senior Kolby Holcombe. Sophomore pitcher Jordan Walters followed up with two strikeouts and a ground out for a quick three up, three down to put the Bulldogs back at the plate.
 
Samford went back to work in the top of the fifth and extended its lead to 5-1 after senior Timberlyn Shurbutt laced an RBI double prior to newcomer Gwynnie Hornibrook collecting an RBI single to score Shurbutt. However, the Golden Eagles were quick to respond in the bottom half of the inning with four runs of their own to knot the game at five.
 
The Bulldogs countered in the top of the sixth, plating five runs on three hits to double their lead. Senior Amanda Briskin picked up an RBI single after lacing one down the left line, while Shurbutt followed with an RBI double after knocking one into right field. It would be a 10-run game one play later after a Southern Miss fielding error, allowing for Shurbutt and Mary Katherine Tedder to make it back home. Borden blasted a solo home run for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the seventh, but it would not be enough to kickstart a comeback, leading to a 10-6 Bulldog victory.
 
Jordan Walters made her second appearance for Samford, pitching 4.2 innings in the circle. The Tallassee, Ala. native allowed five runs on eight hits, while recording three strikeouts after 24 batters faced. Freshman transfer Jordyn Partain collected the win for the Bulldogs with 2.1 innings pitched, three strikeouts, one walk, and one run on two hits.
 
UP NEXT:
The Samford softball team will close out the Black and Gold Invite on Sunday, Feb. 13 with one final game at 1 p.m. against the Golden Eagles at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
 
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).