By Andrew Simonson
After starting the season 1-2, Samford softball dropped to 2-6 after co-hosting the UAB Classic last weekend in Birmingham.
The Bulldogs opened the weekend with a doubleheader against Ball State on Friday. In game one, the Cardinals got out to a 4-0 lead that they never surrendered. Samford clawed back in the seventh inning to only lose by two runs, 5-3. Sophomore catcher Logan Champion and sophomore infielder Grier Bruce both had home runs.
The second game saw Samford come back three separate times to send the game to extra innings. After an eighth inning delay when the stadium light timers shut off, senior infielder Merritt Cahoon hit a bases loaded double to score three runs and win the game 8-7. Sophomore pitcher Jordyn Partain came in from the bullpen to throw six innings and only allow one earned run.
Samford lost both games on Saturday, the first to Lindenwood, 1-0, off a walk-off passed ball with the bases loaded.
Then, the Bulldogs took on Belmont. Samford came back from being down 2-0 to tie the game in the fourth off hits from junior infielders Lindsey Nelson and Ashley Yantis. Belmont scored two runs in the top of the tenth to take the lead, and the Bulldogs could only answer with one run in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore pitcher McKenzie Newcomb notched seven strikeouts across seven innings.
On Sunday, Samford suffered their second walk-off loss of the weekend, this time on the road to cross-town rival UAB. The Bulldogs entered the seventh with a 2-1 lead thanks to a two-run double from Bruce in the top of the sixth. The Blazers rallied to score a two-run single against Newcomb to win the game.
Despite the 1-4 weekend from Samford, there were some bright spots. Bruce and sophomore shortstop Sarah Squillace recorded at least one hit in every game in the tournament. Freshman pitcher Sarah Bond got her first two starts as a Bulldog, recording six strikeouts and three earned runs across 7.1 innings over the weekend.
Each game was decided by two runs or fewer, and the team hopes to improve their play down the stretch to win more close games.
Samford travels to Tuscaloosa to face #15 Alabama on Wednesday. They come home on Friday to host the Samford Bulldog Classic tournament. The Bulldogs will face Southern Indiana, IUPUI and North Alabama twice for a total of six games in three days.
