BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team was back in action today as they wrapped up a Southern Conference series by hosting ETSU for two games today. The Bulldogs came away with a 9-4 win before winning 10-2 in five innings in game two to finish off a sweep of the Buccaneers. The Bulldogs move to 26-15 after the wins and sit atop the league standings with an 8-1 record.

GAME ONE: Samford - 9 | ETSU - 4

The Bulldogs gave the ball to Olivia Treece, who has established herself as the No. 2 in the Samford rotation. They trailed for the only time in the series in the first inning of game two as the Bucs threatened a big rally by loading the bases but Treece was able to escape by allowing just the one run by striking out the last batter of the inning. ETSU added another run in the second inning as the Dog's defense let down Treece as they committed one of their three errors in the second.

The home side bats came to life in the bottom of the second inning as they scored three runs of their own. Sarah Squillace delivered with a two-RBI double that scored Logan Champion and Grier Bruce to tie the game. Joi Hubbard singled to center field to score Squillace as Samford took their first lead of the game.

ETSU scored two runs in the top of the fourth, both unearned after another Bulldog error in the inning. After getting out of the fourth inning, it was the end of Treece's day as she allowed four runs, just one earned while striking out three. Treece stayed in line for the win after her offense scored two runs on a McKayla Cothran single to put Samford up 6-4. 

Sara Bond closed out the final three innings in the circle, allowing just two hits and pitching around three walks. The Dogs added runs late on a Logan Champion sacrifice fly and fielders choice and on a Squillace single to earn the 9-4 victory. Treece earned the win to move to 6-1 on the year while the Dogs outhit ETSU 12-8. Hubbard, Cothran, and Bruce all had two hits while Squillace had three hits in the game with three RBIs and two runs.

GAME TWO: Samford - 10 | ETSU - 2 (5 INN)

After securing the series win, the Bulldogs avoided complacency and dominated the final game of the series in a run-rule victory. The Dogs used a two-out rally in the bottom of the first to score five runs after the first two batters struck out. Olivia Shaw hit a solo blast, her eighth of the season, followed by a Grier Bruce two-run blast to go up 3-0. Addison Smith hit a triple that scored Logan Champion, followed by a Sarah Squillace single to cap the five-run inning.

Jordyn Partain made her second start of the weekend after earning the win on Friday afternoon. She was strong again, going the distance, five innings and allowed just two unearned runs as she moved to 12-8 on the year. She allowed just four hits while striking out four ETSU batters.

The Bulldogs took control of the game by scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joi Hubbard scored on a McKayla Cohtran single and then came around on a Shaw double. Katie Campbell followed that up with a two-run homer as Samford went up 9-2. The Dogs reached the run limit as Squillace singled and then scored from first on a Ella Nelson single to the wall in right center field to capture the 10-2 win.

Samford outhit the visitors 14-4 as they completed their second-straight SoCon sweep. Five Bulldogs had two hits in the finale, Cothran, Shaw, Campbell, Bruce, and Squillace while every batter in the lineup recorded a hit. 

The Dogs sit atop the conference with an 8-1 record and have abig week ahead. They travel to face West Georgia in the mid week before going to UNCG on the weekend. The Spartans are in second place in the league with a 30-10 overall record and a 7-2 league mark.



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