CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Samford softball team hit the road in Southern Conference play today as they started one of the biggest series of their season as they faced Chattanooga. The Bulldogs entered tied atop the SoCon with the Mocs sitting one game back, but Samford fell 4-3 in game one before being shutout 1-0 in game two. Samford's record drops to 30-20 while Chattanooga moves to 35-12 on the year.

GAME ONE: Samford - 3 | Chattanooga - 4

The Bulldogs gave the ball to their ace Jordan Partain to make her 24th start of the season. It appeared like she was delivering one of her best outings of the season as she didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. With Partain dealing, the Dogs got on the board in the third with the long ball. McKayla Cothran hit a two-run blast, bringing home Katie Hart with her second homer of the year. The next batter Olivia Shaw followed with a solo blast of her own, her ninth of the season and 50th RBI as Samford went up 3-0.

The home side got on the board for the first time in the sixth inning. A single followed by a triple allowed one run to score, but Partain was able to buckle down and leave the runner stranded at third to keep the Bulldogs ahead 3-1. Three outs away from victory in game one of the series, the Mocs strung together four straight hits, three singles, and a triple as they scored three runs and walked off with a 4-3 win.

The Dogs had seven hits in the game, led by Shaw who had a multi-hit effort going 2-for-4. Cothran delivered two RBIs and scored a run with her two-run blast while Partain finished the day in the circle going 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs. She falls to 13-12 on the season after the defeat.

GAME TWO: Samford - 0 | Chattanooga - 1

Samford looked to salvage a split on the day in game two against the Mocs. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs were unable to get the bats going in game two as they were shut out for just the third time this season. They mustered six hits in the game but stranded eight runners on base. 

Their best chance came in the second inning when they loaded the bases with zero outs. A strikeout and a double play line out ended the threat without any Samford damage. 

Olivia Treece got the start for the Bulldogs and she was able to keep the home side shutout as she scattered six hits over her four innings of work. Sara Bond came in to relieve Treece but surrendered a two-out double and a single which brought in one run and gave the Mocs the 1-0 lead.

The Dogs had multiple runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't come up with the big hit in the clutch situation. Grier Bruce led the way with two hits while Shaw delivered the lone extra-base hit with her league-leading double.

With the two defeats, the Bulldogs fall into a tie for third in the SoCon with Wofford. Samford is back in action in game three tomorrow against Chattanooga with first pitch scheduled at 12 p.m.

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