Samford 3, Alabama State 0

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ---- Samford played Alabama State in a midweek matchup Tuesday, shutting out the Hornets, 3-0.

Samford (9-10) earned its ninth win of the season behind 4.2 solid innings out of Mollie Hanson (7-8) and 2.1 from Misha Aldridge.  Alex Adams, Shelby Scott and Arica Dykes each earned a pair of hits, accounting for six of the team's nine hits.

Alabama State (1-21) committed three errors and could only muster four hits, failing to capitalize on any of their scoring opportunities.  Melissa Christmann (0-5) allowed the opening run, throwing 4.0 innings in the loss.

Samford's first hit of the game came in the top of the third, as Dykes led off the inning with a bunt single.  After a lineout, Megan Dowdy and Alex Adams both reached base safely to load the bases with one away.  Kayla Shaffer brought home the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left center, scoring Dykes from third to make it 1-0.  A fly ball in foul territory ended the half-inning with the Bulldogs holding the first lead of the game.

Scott and Casey Clark led off the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles and they were both sacrificed into scoring position by a Caroline Wilder bunt.  A strikeout put two outs on the board and a first-pitch popup in foul territory ended the half-inning, stranding both runners as Samford was unable to build on their 1-0 lead.

Destyni Valencia entered to pitch for the Hornets in the top of the fifth and, with one out, gave up a hit to Alex Adams.  Later with two outs in the inning and runners at the corners, Abby Adams stole second and advanced to third on a muffed throw as Caroline Seay scored on the error, making it 2-0.  Scott followed with an RBI double to left-center, adding another run to make it 3-0, and a lineout ended the half-inning with Samford sitting on a three-run cushion.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Hanson tweaked something in the circle and Misha Aldridge came in to pitch for the Bulldogs.  She walked the first batter she faced but a groundout ended the inning as Samford came out unscathed, still leading 3-0.

Samford would get two combined hits over the remaining two innings but could not add to their 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.  In the bottom half of the inning, Alabama State got two singles to put the potential tying run at the plate with two outs.  A groundout ended the threat however as the Bulldogs held on to win, 3-0.

This weekend, Samford continues its conference season with a three-game series against Appalachian State (5-8, 2-1 SoCon) in Boone, N.C.  The teams play a double-header on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. ET and conclude with a single game on Sunday, March 17 at 1 p.m. ET.