BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team rode a six-game winning streak into play tonight for a midweek at UAB. The Bulldog bats were cooled down by Blazer pitching as Samford fell 7-3. The Bulldog's record falls to 15-22 overall as they sit in second place in the Southern Conference at 5-1.

Samford fell behind early as UAB plated single runs in the second and third innings before breaking the game open. Starting pitcher Makinley Turner was tagged for three earned runs over 2 1/3 innings as the Blazers capitalized on early opportunities with runners in scoring position. UAB's offense took advantage of two defensive miscues from the Dogs and built a 6-0 lead by the end of the fourth, working against Sara Bond who entered in relief. 

Offensively, the Bulldogs had nine hits but left 10 runners stranded. Olivia Shaw led the Bulldogs at the plate with two hits and one RBI. In the fifth, Samford broke through with a pair of runs sparked by extra-base hitting from Joi Hubbard, who doubled, scored a run, and reached base twice. With two outs in the final frame, Katie Campbell delivered a two-run homer to center field that cut the deficit to four. The Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but left the bases loaded to end the game.

Bond limited the damage to just one earned run over 3 2/3 innings but allowed three more unearned runs. At the plate, Shaw and Nelson had multi-hit efforts, as Nelson reached base all four times, as she walked twice to go along with her two singles. Turner falls to 4-6 on the season after the defeat, as she works her way back after missing a month with injury.

Samford is back in action in SoCon play this weekend as they travel to face Wofford. The two sides will play two games on Friday and one on Saturday as the Terriers enter with a 24-8 record but are just 3-3 in league play.

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