CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The Samford softball team powered its way to a dominant 14-1 run-rule victory over Western Carolina in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 27-29 overall and continue their postseason push in the semifinals against top-seeded UNCG tomorrow at 9 am.
Samford wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Addison Smith opened the scoring with a single up the middle to bring home Olivia Shaw, before Brantley Drake and Brooke Wildes each delivered RBI singles to cap a six-hit frame. The early outburst gave starting pitcher Makinley Turner immediate run support and staked the Bulldogs to a comfortable lead.
Western Carolina scratched across its lone run in the top of the second on a wild pitch, but the Bulldogs answered in their half. Ella Nelson singled down the left field line to score Shaw, and Drake broke the game open with a three-run double, pushing the lead to 7-1. Wildes followed with another RBI single, closing out a four-run inning that firmly put Samford in control.
The momentum continued into the third and fourth frames as Samford added two more runs in the third, including a double by Shaw and an RBI groundout by Katie Campbell. The defining moment came in the bottom of the fourth when Shaw, the SoCon Player of the Year, launched a grand slam deep to left field, extending the margin to 14-1 and tying her season-high with five RBI in a single game. That swing marked the Bulldogs' eighth game this season, scoring 10 runs or more.
Makinley Turner delivered four strong innings in the circle, limiting Western Carolina to three hits and one run while striking out five to notch her ninth win of the season. Reese Hickey finished off the fifth with a scoreless inning of relief, sealing the run-rule win. Samford's pitching and offensive efficiency were on full display, producing 15 hits with only one strikeout while holding Western Carolina to just four hits on the day.
The Dogs finished with 15 hits on the day, led by the four-hit performance from Shaw who had two doubles to go along with her grand slam. Samford got production from top to bottom of the lineup as Brandy Phillips, Smith, Drake, and Wildes all had two-hit games.
The two top seeds put on dominant performances this afternoon and will face off tomorrow morning as the Dogs face UNCG. Samford dropped two of three games in the series when the sides met last weekend. The games can be followed on ESPN+ and live stats with links here.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @SamfordSB (Instagram).
