Samford Softball Advances To SoCon Championship

Friday, May 12

Greensboro, NC

9 AM

Samford University

25-30

UNC Greensboro

36-20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Samford	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	1
NC Greensboro	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	1

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

Samford Softball Advances To SoCon Championship

5.12.23 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On semifinal Friday at the Southern Conference Softball Championship, the No. 2 seed Samford Softball team fell to No. 1 seed UNCG Spartans by a score of 2-1 in nine innings before downing the No. 5 seed Mercer Bears 2-1 to prevail out of the elimination bracket to the SoCon Championship on Saturday.

The Bulldogs will face off with top-seeded UNCG in the championship round. Game one is slated for a noon CT first pitch and if Samford wins, there will be a winner-take-all second game immediately following. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Saturday will mark the first time since 2016 and only the second time in program history that the Bulldogs have reached the SoCon Championship round. Samford beat Furman 4-3 in the tournament final back in 2016.

With the Friday split, the Bulldogs move to 26-30 on the year. UNCG enters Saturday's final with a record of 36-20 and Mercer finishes the year at 20-37.

In game one, McKenzie Newcomb took the loss despite tossing 8.2 innings of one earned run ball with seven strikeouts. The SoCon Pitcher of the Year scattered six hits over her outing and did not surrender a walk.

In the pitcher's duel between the league's top two squads, Merritt Cahoon led the Bulldogs offensively with a pair of hits and Samford's lone RBI.

UNCG opened the scoring in the second with a two-out RBI double to left center off of Newcomb. The Spartans held a 1-0 advantage until the sixth inning.

Sarah Squillace kickstarted the Bulldog rally in the sixth when the sophomore was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. A McKayla Cothran infield single and Logan Champion walk loaded the bases and brought Cahoon to the dish. The senior tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI groundout to third that scored Squillace.

A scoreless seventh inning forced extras before UNCG walked off Samford in the bottom of the ninth with a two-out RBI double that followed a Bulldog error for the 2-1 victory.

In the nightcap, Jordyn Partain got a no-decision in the circle after allowing one run in her five-inning start. Newcomb picked up the win with a two-inning relief appearance where she fanned three Bear batters.

In another pitcher's duel, the Samford offensive trio of Cahoon, Newcomb and Ansely Yantis played hero for the Bulldogs.

Yantis gave Samford a 1-0 lead with her third home run of the year in the bottom of the second. The junior crushed a ball down the left field line that popped out of the Mercer outfielder's glove and landed over the fence for the early Bulldog lead.

The Bears tied it up at 1-1 in the fourth with an RBI single through the right side that set up a dramatic final three innings of play.

Grier Bruce started the fireworks in the sixth with a standup leadoff double to left center. Abigail Dorsett pinch-ran for Bruce and moved to third on a Champion sacrifice bunt. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Newcomb flew out to centerfield deep enough to let Dorsett score and give Samford a 2-1 edge.

Newcomb worked around a two-out single to secure the 2-1 victory and propel Samford to the championship on Saturday.

UP NEXT
Samford will face off with UNCG on Saturday at noon CT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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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).