BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team returned to action today after nearly a week away from play as they hosted Furman for two games today in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs controlled game one wire-to-wire 5-1 before completing a five-run rally in the seventh inning of game two to win 6-5. The Bulldogs move to 30-17 on the season overall and now sit at 11-3 in SoCon play, back in first place alone.

GAME ONE: Furman - 1 | Samford - 5

The Bulldogs looked to take advantage of a Paladin team that had dropped six straight SoCon games. Samford didn't waste any time jumping ahead to start the day as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After reaching on a walk, McKayla Cothran scored on an Olivia Shaw double to the wall in center field to put the Dogs on the board. Shaw was immediately brought home as Katie Campbell continued to swing one of the hottest bats in the conference as she homered, her ninth of the year, and made it 3-0 Samford.

Jordyn Partain got the ball to start the series for the Bulldogs and she went the distance on the day. Furman was putting runners on base as they had eight hits off Partain, but she was able to avoid hard contact for the most part on the day as she was able to pitch around the hits. 

The home side added runs in the fourth and fifth innings as a Sarah Squillace single scored Logan Champion before Grier Bruce singled to score Shaw as Samford jumped out to a 5-0 lead after five innings. The only ball hit hard off Partain came in the sixth inning as she allowed a solo home run, her only extra-base hit surrendered on the day as she moved to 13-10 on the season after a pitching line of 7.0 innings, one run allowed, and two strikeouts.

The Bulldog's offense had nine hits of their own in the game led by the heart of the order in Shaw and Campbell who each had 2-for-3 days at the plate with the prior scoring two runs and the latter having two RBIs.



GAME TWO: Furman - 5 | Samford - 6 

The second game of the day had a completely different feel than game one as the Samford bats were stymied for much of the game. They fell behind in the second inning as the visitors scored two in the top of the frame as spotty defense and a questionable call at first base resulted in two Furman runs off starter Sara Bond. Bond would last 2.1 innings as she allowed those two unearned runs while giving up two hits and three walks.

Olivia Treece came in and was strong in relief as she went four innings without any trouble. However, the Bulldog bats had just two hits through five innings and were being kept off-balance at the plate. They finally broke through in the home half of the sixth as Shaw and Campbell delivered with back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit in half and make the game 2-1. 

Right when it looked like Samford had taken all of the momentum in the game, Treece ran into trouble in the seventh as she allowed a three-run homer to put the Paladins back up 5-1. Getting the bats for the last time in the game, the Bulldogs got off to a strong start as Logan Champion hit a lead-off shot to center, her 10 homer of the year. From there on, the Paladins helped the Bulldogs but Samford was able to put good swings on the ball. Sarah Squillace reached on an error before Sydnie Ferrant singled off the center fielder's glove as she leaped up against the wall. Addison Smith battled deep in the count to draw a walk and load the bases bringing the winning run to the plate.

Cothran hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Squillace to make it 5-3 but was the second out of the inning. Shaw came up and laced a ball just off the top of the glove of the right fielder that scored Smith and Ferrant to tie the game 5-5. Having come all the way back, the Bulldogs weren't done as Campbell chopped a ball up the middle that got under the backhand attempt of the second baseman and Shaw scored to give Samford the 6-5 victory.

The Bulldogs were outhit 8-7 in the game but came to life late as Shaw had two more hits to go with a pair of runs scored and RBIs. Treece finished with a line of 4.2 innings pitched, allowing five hits and three runs but was really solid for the majority of her outing and moved to 7-1 with the win.

The comeback victory propelled the Bulldogs into first place in the SoCon once again after UNCG fell to ETSU in game two of their series today. The Bulldogs will look to finish off the sweep of the Paladins tomorrow at 1 p.m.



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