BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball program stayed close to home today as they took part in the Green and Gold Classic hosted by UAB today. The Bulldogs first took down Southern Indiana 4-0 before falling 3-1 to Belmont as a late Samford rally came up short. The Bulldogs move to 7-4 after splitting the two games on the day.

GAME ONE: SAMFORD - 4 | SOUTHERN INDIANA - 0

The Bulldogs looked to get back in their winnings form after they saw their five-game winning streak snapped by No. 17 Mississippi State during the midweek. They opened four-game tournament play by facing the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles. The Dogs gave the ball to Olivia Trout who made her first start in the circle of the season. The Birmingham Southern transfer was in control throughout the game after getting out of a two-out bases-loaded jam.

Trout got run support immediately as the Bulldogs brought across three runs in the top of the first. The first three batters from Samford all reached base as McKayla Cothran and Olivia Shaw walked while Sarah Squillace hit a single. The bases were cleared by the Dog's hottest hitter when Katie Campbell doubled to deep right centerfield. 

Trout cruised through four innings of work before she was replaced, finishing with a line of 4.0 innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. The Bulldogs gave the ball to Sara Bond in relief as she dominated the rest of the way, pitching three no-hit innings while striking out two.

The Dogs got an insurance run in the sixth inning when Logan Champion left the yard with a solo shot to left centerfield for her first homer of the season. Samford had six hits while Southern Indiana managed just three for the game. Katie Hart was the lone player in the game with multiple hits while Oliva Shaw reached base three times via walk. Campbell's three RBIs were the big blow of the game as Samford did miss a handful of opportunities later as they left nine on base.

Trout earned her first decision of the season as she moved to 1-0 with the win while the Bulldogs moved to 7-3 as a team while Southern Indiana fell to 1-5.

GAME TWO: SAMFORD - 1 | BELMONT - 3

The Bulldogs saved their ace Jordyn Partain for their afternoon game against Belmont after they defeated Southern Indiana in the morning. Partain was solid but didn't have much room for error against a good Belmont side as the Samford offense was held down. She went a complete game and set a season-high with seven strikeouts but allowed six hits and three runs.

The Dogs bats have only been held down in a couple games so far this season as they are a top scoring team in the Southern Conference, but they had no answer for Belmont's starting pitcher Maya Johnson until a rally in the bottom of the seventh. 

The Bulldogs had just two hits before the final inning when Olivia Shaw singled and Katie Campbell doubled to start the innings. Shaw came in to score on a Grier Bruce ground out but the rally was ended when pinch runner Addison Smith was thrown out at home. 

Samford brought the game-tying run to the plate in the final inning which was really their only offensive rally of the game but they couldn't find the final clutch hit to make the Bruins pay. They finished with four hits to Belmont's six as 11 Bulldog batters struck out on the night.

The Bulldogs are off tomorrow but still have two games left in the tournament as they face Purdue on Sunday morning and hosts UAB Monday night. Purdue is 6-5 on their season while UAB is 6-3 despite already falling to Samford twice this season.