BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team wrapped up play today at the Samford Softball Tournament with games against Lindenwood and North Alabama. The Bulldogs took down Lindenwood 9-6 before falling to UNA 10-2 in six innings. Samford's record moves to 4-6 overall after the split today.

The Dogs got their day off to a hot start against the Lions of Lindenwood, taking an early lead in the second inning. The bottom of the order delivered as Ella Nelson singled to score Katie Campbell, followed by an Addison Smith single to score Sydie Ferrant. Claire McArthur got the start in the circle and was strong early on. She pitched around five hits, allowing just one run in the third. 

Lindenwood jumped on top in the fifth inning off Olivia Treece, who was stellar in relief yesterday, but she loaded the bases before giving way to freshman Reese Hickey. The freshman struck out her first batter before surrendering a grand slam to right field as LU went up 6-2. However, the Samford bats responded immediately in the bottom of the frame as Campbell led off with a homer, followed by a two-run shot from Brooke Wildes that scored Shannon Weems. Joi Hubbard later tripled to score Nelson and tie the game 6-6 before scoring on a Brandy Phillips single to give Samford the lead. The Dogs added two more runs of support in the sixth as Smith brought in two on a single while Hickey shut the door the rest of the way, going 2.2 innings to earn her first win and a 9-6 Bulldog victory.

The Samford bats combined for 17 hits in the game, with three-hit efforts from Smith, Nelson, and Wildes. Campbell's home run was her fourth of the season while Wildes left the yard for the first time.

The second game of the day was a struggle against a strong North Alabama team. Samford got off to a quick start as Hubbard and Phillips singled early and were brought home on an Olivia Shaw double and a Weems groundout to go up 2-0. Makinley Turner got the ball for the Bulldogs, who had solidified herself atop the rotation early in the season, but she gave up a run on three hits in the second inning to cut the Samford lead before disaster struck in the fourth to blow the game open. 

UNA scored seven runs in the fourth, all of which were unearned after the Lions combined for four hits in the frame but got a free pass, wild pitch, and three defensive errors in the inning. The Samford bats were quiet the rest of the night after falling behind as they got six hits in the six-inning game before falling 10-2. Shaw had two hits for Samford in the game, and McArthur closed out the final 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

Up next, Samford heads to face Georgia in a midweek game on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. Georgia is 9-2 on the season and ranked No. 17 in the nation.

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