JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Samford softball team extended its win streak by two victories on Saturday afternoon at Betty Besler Field, recording 3-1 and 7-3 (8) wins over ETSU to tie for first place in the Southern Conference.
 
BOX SCORE: GAME ONE (PDF)
BOX SCORE: GAME TWO (PDF)
 
GAME 1
Final: Samford 3 | ETSU 1
 
Freshman pitcher McKenzie Newcomb picked up her 19th win for the Samford after allowing just one run on seven hits in a complete-game effort. In her 22nd start in the circle, the Meridianville, Ala., native registered nine strikeouts after 27 batters faced, improving her overall record to 19-7.  
 
The two teams traded a combined four hits through three before senior Mary Katherine Tedder launched a leadoff solo shot on a first pitch swing in the top of the fourth for a 1-0 advantage. It would be a déjà vu moment in the top half of the next inning for the Bulldogs with Kolby Holcombe smacking a leadoff homer of her own for the senior's fourth homer of the season and sixth of her career.
 
Samford extended its lead by one run in the top of the seventh with senior Timberlyn Shurbutt driving her 34th run on the season, lacing a ball up the middle to plate senior Amanda Briskin who opened the inning with a single on a 1-0 count. In a last-ditch effort, ETSU scattered three hits in the bottom of the seventh, plating a run after Amber Atkins logged an RBI double. However, the Buccaneers we unable to execute the late rally for their 43rd loss on the season.
 
GAME 2
Final: Samford 7 | ETSU 3
 
Game two quickly turned into a pitcher's duel between Jordyn Partain and ETSU's Whitley Arnott as each team left a combined five base runners stranded over the opening three innings. It was Samford that managed to strike first in the top of the fourth as designated hitter Gwynnie Hornibrook logged the Bulldog's third home run of the day with a bomb out of left field.
 
Samford then pushed its lead to 2-0 in the top of the next frame with senior Amanda Briskin getting things started with a single to center field, eventually moving to second after McKayla Cothran found her second hit of the game. One play later, senior Timberlyn Shurbutt ripped a two-bag hit down the right field line to score Briskin before heading into the bottom of the fifth where the Bucs were unable to find a run.
 
Another Samford home run, courtesy of sophomore Ansley Yantis, in the top of the sixth increased the Bulldog lead to 3-0, however, ETSU responded in a big way with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With a tie game, both teams entered an extra-inning battle with Samford coming out the other side victorious, tallying four unearned runs off a pair of Buccaneer errors along with two Samford hits.
 
Freshman pitcher Jordyn Partain made her 23rd appearance and 17th start of the season, putting 5.2 innings of work where she allowed three runs on seven hits. Fellow freshman pitcher McKenzie Newcomb entered in the bottom of the sixth for the Bulldogs, earning her 20th win of the season, giving up just one hit and striking out one batter in 2.1 innings.
 
UP NEXT:
The Samford softball team will close out its series against the Buccaneers of East Tennessee State on Sunday, May 1 at 12 p.m. with a single game at Betty Besler Field.
 
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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).