GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Samford softball team began play today at the Florida Invitational. They are slated to play five games in three days and split their opening pair of games today as they defeated Troy 5-4 before falling to the No. 3 ranked Florida Gators 9-1 in the nightcap. The Bulldogs record moves to 10-6 on the season after the 1-1 day.

GAME ONE: SAMFORD - 5 | TROY - 4

The Bulldogs started their weekend off with a game against Troy. The two sides met for the second time this season as the Dogs finished off the season sweep of the Trojans after they defeated them 12-0 earlier this year. Today, both side's offenses got going early on as Troy scored a run in the top of the first inning against Samford pitcher Olivia Treece. The Bulldog freshman was able to leave the bases loaded by retiring the final two batters of the inning to limit any further damage.

McKayla Cothran and Sarah Squillace each singled to start off the bottom of the inning and they both came around to score on a Troy throwing error later in the inning to take a 2-1 lead. After getting through the second inning, Treece started the third with a walk, her fourth of her outing, and she was replaced by Sara Bond. The inherited runner came around to score on a double to end Treece's line and tie the game 2-2. The Trojans hit a solo homer in the fourth to take a one-run lead while the Samford bats went quiet in the middle innings. 

In need of runs in the bottom of the sixth, Olivia Shaw and Linsey Hargis got aboard with one-out singles. They were brought home by the biggest hit of the game as Grier Bruce homered to left center field, her first of the season, which gave the Dogs a 5-3 lead. 

The Trojans led off the top of the seventh with a solo homer against Bond to cut their deficit in half. Bond was able to bounce back and retire the side in order after the homerun to earn the win and move to 3-1 on the season. The Dogs were outhit 9-7 in the game but Bruce provided the pop in the lineup as she had two hits, three RBIs, and scored a run. Bond finished in the circle with a line of 5 innings, scattering six hits, and allowing two runs.

GAME TWO: #3 FLORIDA - 9 | SAMFORD - 1

After the late and dramatic win over the Trojans, the Bulldogs faced their toughest test of the season against the host and No. 3 ranked Florida Gator team. Samford gave the ball to Jordyn Partain in the circle who gave up three runs in the opening inning against the home side. She settled down in the second inning to sit down the Gators in order before surrendering two runs in the third as she went through the lineup for the second time. 

Partain's day came to an end after 2.2 innings pitched, allowing six runs on six hits. She was replaced by Karley Fuller who also allowed six hits in her 2.2 innings of work and three earned runs. 

Offensively, the Bulldogs got their first base runners in the third after Logan Champion and Hargis reached on errors to start the inning, however, they were unable to capitalize as the next three batters went down in order. The Samford batters seemed to see the ball better the second time through the order as Katie Campbell, Olivia Shaw, and Bruce all singled consecutively before scoring their lone run on a Champion bases-loaded walk. 

The Dogs left the bases loaded as they were unable to take further advantage of the rally as from that point on, they could just muster a Cothran single against the Gator pitching.

Samford was ou hit 12-4 in the game as the Dogs took on SEC competition for the second time this season.

The Bulldogs are back in action for two more games tomorrow as they will face Western Michigan at 3:30 p.m. and Florida A&M at 6 p.m. The Broncos are 5-8 on the season while the Rattlers are 3-9 on their season so far.

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