BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford softball team closed out its three-game Southern Conference series with a statement, shutting out Western Carolina 3-0 Sunday afternoon at home. The Bulldogs improved to 18-26 overall and 8-4 in SoCon play, snapping a two-game losing streak and securing their seventh shutout of the season.
Samford wasted no time getting on the board, jumping out to an early lead with a big first inning. After Joi Hubbard drew a walk and swiped second, Olivia Shaw delivered the game's first blow—launching a two-run home run to left field. The Bulldogs kept the pressure on as Brandy Phillips singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Sydnie Ferrant, giving Samford a 3-0 advantage out of the gate.
That early outburst would prove to be all the Bulldogs needed, with the middle innings marked by dominant pitching and patient at-bats. Phillips collected two hits and a stolen base while Ella Nelson also chipped in a multi-hit game. Samford hitters continued to grind out plate appearances, drawing eight walks—three from Hubbard—to keep Western Carolina under constant pressure and set a season-high for bases on balls.
In the circle for the Bulldogs, Makinley Turner, completely stifled the Catamounts. Turner delivered a one-hit, complete-game shutout, striking out eight and walking two in one of the season's most efficient performances. The only Western Carolina hit came in the fourth, as Turner faced just one batter over the minimum and retired the final nine she faced. Ferrant's sacrifice fly in the first capped the scoring, and Samford stranded 13 runners but never looked back as Turner shut the door in the late innings.
The Bulldogs host Alabama in a midweek game on Tuesday night. The Crimson Tide are 39-3 on the season and defeated Samford 8-1 when the two sides met earlier this season.
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