TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Samford softball team struggled in Friday's doubleheader at the JoAnne Graf Classic, dropping a 10-1 decision to Marshall and a 9-1 contest to Iowa, both ending after five innings due to the run rule. The Bulldogs move to 1-3 overall on the season after the tournament's second day.
Samford wasted no time getting on the board in the opener against Marshall.
Joi Hubbard led off with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from
Brandy Phillips, staking the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead. However, Marshall struck back in the bottom of the inning against Samford starter Oliva Treece, who made her first appeared on the 2026 season after going 8-1 last year.
It was a short appearance for Treece who lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs.
Olivia Trout came out of the bullpen but was ineffective in her relief appearance, recording one out, walking two batters and allowing two runs as Marshall jumped on top 7-1 after the second inning. Freshman
Reese Hickey went the rest of the way for Samford in the circle, working two-plus innings and allowing three runs, two earned.
Joi Hubbard went 2-for-2 with a double at the plate but was nearly the lone offense as Samford was run ruled 10-1 by Marshall.
In the second game of the day, Iowa's offense struck quickly, plating three runs in the bottom of the first to establish control, working against Sara Bond who got the ball for the Dogs. She recorded two outs before being replaced by Claire McArthur. The Bulldogs' lone highlight came in the fourth when Katie Campbell connected for a solo home run to deep center, briefly cutting into Iowa's lead. Brandy Phillips and Ella Nelson each added singles, but a five-run Hawkeye fourth sealed the contest as Iowa completed the run-rule victory. The combo of McArthur and Hickey closed out the final three innings, allowing six runs.
The Bulldogs wrap up play at the JoAnne Graf Classic on Saturday, Feb. 7, with a 9 a.m. rematch against Iowa in Tallahassee.
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