BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team returned home for the first time in over two weeks as they opened Southern Conference play by hosting Mercer. The Bulldogs won each of the first two games in dramatic fashion as they captured 7-6 and 2-1 wins. The victories move Samford's record to 20-12 on the season and 2-0 in SoCon play.

GAME ONE: Samford - 7 | Mercer - 6

The Bulldogs opened up the weekend by giving the ball to Jordyn Partain who was able to silence the Mercer bats for the first three innings of the game. In the meantime, the Dogs got on the board first as they scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning. After a walk and a single, Sarah Squillace was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Logan Champion followed by Linsey Hargis scoring on a Ella Nelson base hit. Joi Hubbard hit a ball deep into the right-center field gap that was dropped and allowed Nelson to score from first.

Going through the heart of the Bear's order for the second time, Partain gave up a single and walk to open the fourth innings. Mercer scored their first run on a Bulldog defensive mistake and then the second run came in on a double play ball which limited the damage in the inning but Mercer was back in the game down 3-2.

Samford got their three-run cushion back immediately as they scored two in the bottom of the fourth. Grier Bruce walked and Logan Champion singled to start the frame and then the Dogs took advantage of a Mercer error which allowed a run to come home followed by a Joi Hubbard fielder's choice which scored a second run.

The Bears added two more runs in the fifth on a home run to left field to make the Samford lead 5-4. The following inning Mercer tied the game at five before the Dogs final rally of two runs in the bottom of the sixth was enough to secure the victory. Nelson doubled and Hubbard walked before McKayla Cothran, who was reintroduced to the lineup after a small injury, singled up the middle to bring in a run to give the Bulldogs a lead. Shaw hit a sacrifice fly which allowed Hubbard to score. The Bears got one run in the top of the seventh but Samford escaped with a 7-6 win.

Partain earned the victory to take her record to 7-6 on the season as she went the distance, allowing six hits and five runs. The Bulldogs managed six hits in game one including two-hit performances from Cothran and Nelson, as the freshman infielder scored three runs and had two RBIs.



GAME TWO: Samford - 2 | Mercer - 1

Coming off the win in the SoCon opener, the Bulldogs gave the ball to freshman Olivia Treece who made her fifth start of the season. She had a rocky opening innings where she issued a walk and allowed three singles but Treece was able to retire the final two batters to strand runs aboard. From that point on, the freshman pitcher allowed just three hits the rest of the game as she twirled a gem.

The question became would the Bulldogs offense be able to have any production on the day to back up the performance from their pitcher. It seemed like they were running out of time as they entered the bottom of the seventh inning with just two hits, but that is when they threated for the first time against the Bears.

The big hit came from Logan Champion who led off with a double to get the momentum going. Addison Smith pinch ran for Champion and did well to avoid a tag on her way to third which allowed her to advance safely and Ella Nelson to make it to first. Joi Hubbard hit a chopper to third which was dropped as the Bears tried to tag Smith at third. 

With the bases loaded, it was once again McKayla Cothran who delivered in her first day back in the lineup. She put the ball in play back to shortstop which Mercer wasn't able to handle as Smith and Nelson scurried around to score as the Bulldogs walked it off 2-1.

Treece earned the win to move to 4-1 on the season and a team-best 2.10 earned run average. 

The two sides are back in action tomorrow as they wrap up their three-game set with a single game scheduled for 1 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+ here and live stats can be followed here.



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