GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Bulldogs of Samford University battled Mercer through all seven innings for a 7-6, comeback victory after freshman Sarah Squillace walked it off Thursday evening at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
 
BOX SCORE: (PDF)
 
It would be an RBI double from Mercer's Diamond Williams to get things started in game two of the day, however, that would be followed by five-straight strikeouts from freshman McKenzie Newcomb to the Bears at bay. Unfortunately, Mercer didn't stay quiet for long with Williams striking again in the top of the third with another RBI double to plate Madison Headley for a 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom half of the frame, senior Timberlyn Shurbutt fired a deep ball off the center field wall for her first hit on the night, plating freshman Sarah Squillace and McKayla Cothran to knot the game at 2-2. The Bears responded quickly in the top of the third, reclaiming their lead after Headley singled down the left field line to score pinch runner Elisa Rosado on second.
 
Mercer found itself in a bases-loaded, one out situation in the fifth frame, executing at the plate with back-to-back singles to add three more runs to the board. With the Bulldogs down by four, freshman Jordyn Partain entered the circle in relief and forced a ground out to close out the inning.
 
The Bulldogs answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth behind junior Merritt Cahoon's two RBI double and sophomore Ansley Yantis's RBI single through the left side. It would be a scoreless sixth inning for both teams before the Bears found themselves in another bases-loaded opportunity in the top of the seventh. This time the Samford defense would get out of the jam after turning a key double play before Mercer's Kenlie Harvey flied out to left field to keep the Bulldogs within one run.
 
With only one out on the board in the final frame, Samford's Grier Bruce knotted the game after a double to left center on a full count to score pinch runner Abigail Dorsett. This was followed by a walk from Amanda Briskin to put two runners on before Sarah Squillace walked it off for the third time this season after hitting a ground ball to score Yantis for a 7-6, Bulldog win.
 
UP NEXT:
The Samford softball team will now turn its attention to the Paladins of Furman University on Friday, May 13 at 11:30 a.m. (central) at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
 
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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).