BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford softball team hosted Alabama tonight at the Samford Softball Stadium. The Bulldogs pulled off a historic upset as they defeated the #2/#3 Crimson Tide 3-2 with a fifth inning rally and held on to capture their first win over Alabama since 1997 and earn the win over their highest ever ranked opponent. The Bulldogs move to 19-26 on the season and remain in second place in the Southern Conference at 8-4.
Alabama jumped out early with solo home runs in the second and third innings, putting Samford in a 2-0 deficit while limiting the Bulldogs to just one hit through the first four frames. Starter
Sara Bond kept the Bulldogs within striking distance, scattering four hits and striking out six over 4 2/3 innings against a strong Crimson Tide lineup.
Everything changed in the bottom of the fifth, where Samford manufactured a game-turning rally. The inning began with
Addison Smith walking and
Katie Hart reaching on a hit by pitch and swiping second base before
Joi Hubbard drew her second walk of the game to load the bases. After a passed ball plated Smith to make it 2-1,
Katie Campbell delivered by ripping a two-run double to left that scored Hart and Hubbard, vaulting the Bulldogs into a 3-2 lead.
With the lead in hand,
Makinley Turner took over in the circle and was untouchable down the stretch. The sophomore right-hander fired 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, yielding just two hits and striking out three to slam the door and earn the win. Turner combined with Bond to limit Alabama — who entered the night with a 39-3 record — to a pair of solo shots and little else, stranding the tying run on base in the seventh.
The win snapped a nine-game skid against ranked or Power Five opponents for the Bulldogs and marked their first victory over a ranked team since 2016. Samford's pitching and defense held Alabama to two solo home runs and six total hits, with neither team committing an error in a tightly contested matchup.
After the historic win, Samford turns its focus back to Southern Conference play, traveling to Greenville, S.C., for a three-game series at Furman beginning Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., followed by a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
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For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at @SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @samfordsoftball (Instagram).
