GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Samford softball team hit the road in Southern Conference play to face UNCG in a three-game series. The matchup featured the first-place Bulldogs and the Spartans who trailed by just one game. The home side took a pitcher's duel 3-1 in the opener before the Dogs bounced back in game two 6-5. Samford's record moves to 28-16 with the win and they are 9-2 in conference play.

GAME ONE: Samford - 1 | UNCG - 3

The Bulldogs had won six straight conference games as they entered to face their biggest test in SoCon play. They gave the ball to their ace Jordyn Partain in the opener and she was dealing against the only offense who has scored more runs than Samford in the league. She didn't give up her first hit until the bottom of the third inning as she cruised through the order the first time.

The Samford bats started slow as well but got on the board first in the top of the fourth. Olivia Shaw drew a leadoff walk and she was immediately brought home on an RBI double from Katie Campbell. The Dogs loaded the bases with just one out but the bottom of the order was unable to come up with a big hit as they brought across just one run.

UNCG answered in the bottom of the fifth as they got a two-out single and double to score their first run and tie the game 1-1. The Spartans added two more in the sixth as they got two doubles and two singles off Partain. She went 5.2 innings, allowing seven hits, and three runs after such a strong first four innings. The Bulldogs were unable to muster a rally late as Partain fell to 12-9 on the season after the defeat.

Bulldogs hitters recorded just four hits in the game while the home side finished with seven. Campbell recorded two of the hits for the Dogs as she went 2-for-3 at the dish and had the team's lone RBI.

GAME TWO: Samford - 6 | UNCG - 5

The sides with the two best offenses in the conference had their bats come to life in game two of the series. The Spartans got to Samford starter Olivia Treece early on as they scored two runs in the opening innings of the game. Head coach Megan Curry had a short leash for Treece as she was pulled after recording one out as Sara Bond entered in relief. 

The home side added three runs in the bottom of the second inning, as they got to Bond with a solo homer and three singles as they took a 5-0 lead. The Dogs quickly answered back though as they rallied for five runs of their own in the third inning. Sarah Squillace, Ella Nelson, and Joi Hubbard all reached base as the first two were brought home on an Olivia Shaw single. Katie Campbell then followed with a blast to center field, her eighth of the season, and the game was tied 5-5 just like that.

Bond really settled into her outing as the game went on as she held UNCG scoreless after the second inning. She allowed just four hits and two earned runs as she worked 6.2 innings. She would earn the win to take her to 6-3 on the season after the Bulldogs were able to add one run in the fifth as Campbell reached on a fielder's choice that scored McKayla Cothran and gave Samford the 6-5 win.

Samford outhit UNCG nine to seven as Hubbard, Grier Bruce, and Squillace all had two-hit games. Campbell has been on an RBI tear this week and that continued as she had four in game two of the series.

After the split, the Bulldogs remain one game up on the Spartans in the SoCon standings. The rubber match is set for first pitch at noon tomorrow with live stat and video watch links available here.

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