TROY, Ala. - The Samford softball team opened its season today at the Trojan Invitational as they played two games in the morning against North Texas followed by Central Michigan. The Bulldogs fell late in their opener against the Mean Green before bouncing back to defeat the Chippewas in game two. Samford's record sits at 1-1 after their opening day while UNT moves to 2-1 and CMU sits at 0-3.

GAME ONE: Samford - 4 | North Texas - 7 

The Bulldogs struck first in the top of the second inning with a two-out rally as Grier Bruce got deep into the count before working a walk to give Samford a baserunner. In her first collegiate at-bat, freshman Ella Nelson sent a double into the left centerfield gap that plated Bruce to give the Dogs their first run of the season. They weren't done, as Katie Hart singled up the middle bringing home Nelson and doubling their lead.

The Bulldogs gave the ball to Jordyn Partain who cruised through the opening innings before facing her first jam in the second. She surrendered one run on a single to left but was able to escape the bases loaded and just one out without any further damage to keep Samford ahead.

The Mean Green had traffic on the bases in the middle innings but Partain was always able to get out of trouble. Samford looked like they got the cushion they needed as Katie Campbell launched a two-run homer to left field that scored Joi Hubbard and put the Bulldogs up 4-1.

The game got away from Samford in the bottom of the sixth inning as North Texas led off with back-to-back singles which scored a run followed by a costly defensive error which scored another. A walk to her final batter ended Partain's day as she was replaced by Sara Bond but the prior was responsible for two runners aboard. Bond walked her first batter then proceeded to surrender a double that plated two that gave North Texas the lead and a two-out single which gave them a 7-4 lead at the end of the inning. 

Partain was hit with the loss after pitching 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, and five runs, four of which were earned as she failed to get out of just one costly jam on the day. The Bulldogs went down in order in the seventh as they fell by a final of 7-4. Offensively, Samford managed five hits, highlighted by Campbell's homer and Nelson's double.

GAME TWO: Central Michigan - 2 | Samford - 3

After finishing the previous game, Bond got the ball in the circle for the Dogs and it appeared as she settled into a rhythm as the starting pitcher. She cruised through the CMU order the first time around, retiring all nine batters she faced through three innings of work. The Bulldogs lineup gave her some run support right away as Campbell drove in Sarah Squillace who had reached on a walk with a double to right field.  

The Chippewas adjusted to Bond as they saw her for the second time as they scored a run in the fourth after a leadoff single and steal followed by another RBI single to tie the game. The Dogs didn't wait long to respond as Logan Champion led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to left field to restore their lead. Samford was able to add an insurance run in the fifth as Hubbard drew a walk and then used her speed to wreak havoc on the bases. She stole second before advancing to third on a Campbell single before stealing home as CMU threw down to second on the double steal that allowed Hubbard to beat the throw back to home plate. 

CMU cut the Bulldog lead to one with a solo homer in the top of the sixth which signaled the end of Bonds day. She earned the win after throwing 5.1 innings, scattering five hits, and allowing two runs while striking out two. She was relieved by Karley Fuller who was lights out in her 1.2 innings of work, allowing just one baserunner and earning the save. 

Offensively, the Bulldog bats managed eight hits as Campbell, Champion, and Bruce all recorded multi-hit games in the victory. 

The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow with two more games to close the Trojan Invitational. They face a 1-1 Tennessee State team at 11:30 am before closing with hosts Troy (2-0) at 5 p.m. The game against the Trojans can be seen on ESPN+ here.

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