BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team returned home to host West Georgia tonight. Playing just their sixth home game of the season, the Bulldogs jumped on top of the Wolves early and came away with an 8-1 victory. Samford's record moves to 8-13 on the season after the victory.

Samford got off to a hot start, as Joi Hubbard sparked the Bulldogs in the bottom of the first, reaching base and scoring on a triple from Brandy Phillips. Phillips came around on a single by Olivia Shaw, giving Samford a quick 2-0 advantage. Olivia Treece got the start in the circle for the Dogs, her second of the season. West Georgia answered with a run in the second, but Samford was able to answer with a rally of their own in the second. 

Brooke Wildes and Addison Smith both reached base and scored, while Kayden Harrison drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. Hubbard added an RBI single, and Phillips capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle. By the end of the frame, Samford led 6-1. Samford padded its lead in the fourth, as Shaw roped an RBI double to right field to bring home Hubbard, and Katie Campbell followed immediately with another double to score Shaw. The Bulldogs' 13-hit effort included six extra-base hits, with Phillips tallying three RBIs and Shaw driving in two as she had a three-hit performance.

Treece had her best outing of the season, controlling the circle throughout, tossing a complete game while allowing only one run on six hits and four walks. Treece stranded eight West Georgia runners and improved to 1-0 on the season. Samford's offense, led by the top of the order trio of Hubbard, Phillips, and Shaw, combined for seven hits and six RBIs and provided the cushion to close out the victory.

The Bulldogs will head to Mobile for the Jaguar Classic, opening against New Mexico on Friday, March 6.

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