BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team continued play this morning at the Green and Gold Classic hosted by UAB. After a 1-1 day on Friday, the Bulldogs returned for a game against Purdue. The Dogs were outhit by the Boilermakers as they fell 11-4 to take their record to 7-5 on the season while Purdue moves to 8-6. 

The bats had the better of the pitchers for both teams in an early morning start today. The Bulldogs gave the ball to Sara Bond to start and she cruised through the first before running into her first trouble in the second inning. She loaded the bases with just one out but was able to get out of the jam despite going deep into full counts with both batters. 

Purdue was the first side to bring across a run in the third inning as they had a walk and three hits to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Bond's day was done as she was replaced by Karley Fuller after 2.2 innings of work. The Dogs got busy in the bottom of the frame as Kate Hart and McKayla Cothran each singled and were both brought home on an Olivia Shaw 2 RBI single to tie the game 2-2.

The Boilermakers put up a crooked number in the top of the fourth as they scored four runs against Fuller to retake the lead. She struck out the final two batters of the inning to limit and further damage but Samford was back down 6-2. When the Bulldogs got the bats back, Linsey Hargis doubled for the second time in as many at-bats and was brought home when Logan Champion left the park to left centerfield, her third of the season.

The Bulldogs forced a Purdue pitching change, but from that point on they were able to just muster two hits against the Boilermaker reliever. Purdue added an insurance run in the 5th before bringing across four in the top of the seventh to blow the game open against Olivia Trout who was on for the final inning of work.

Samford was outhit 14-8 on the day while their staff surrendered seven free passes to just one from the Purdue pitchers. Shaw and Hargis had multi-hit games for the Bulldogs while it was Shaw and Champion who combined to drive in all four runs. Karley Fuller earned the decision in the circle as she falls to 0-1 on the season.

The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow evening as they face hosts UAB. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. as the Dogs look to finish off a season sweep of the Blazers after defeating them twice last week at the Samford Bulldog Tournament 6-5 and 16-7.

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