Samford 9, Gardner-Webb 0 (5 inn.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team recorded its second shutout of the season after a 9-0 victory over Gardner-Webb University in five innings on Sunday, Feb. 15, in the final game of the Samford Classic at the Samford Softball Field.
Sophomore pitcher Grey Adams tossed her second combined shutout of the year with a complete-game shutout of the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-7). Adams threw five innings with three strikeouts and one walk while also only allowing three GWU hits on the day.
Samford (8-2) jumped out in front early on Gardner-Webb and plated a run in the bottom of the first on a Caroline Wilder single to right center field to score junior Megan Dowdy from second.
The Bulldogs extended its lead in the second after the team strung together seven hits to plate six runs and take a 7-0 lead. Dowdy, freshman Shelby Maze, freshman Lexi Higgins, junior Caitlin Bice and sophomore Abby Sweeney each tallied an RBI in the inning to stretch the lead.
Bice emerged yet again as the big-bat in the Bulldogs lineup as she belted her fourth home run of the weekend with a two-run line-shot over the wall in right center field to cap the scoring at 9-0 in favor of Samford. Bice ended the contest 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and three RBI in the contest.
From the leadoff position Dowdy was a solid 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI while Wilder finish 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored to add to her RBI in the second.
Samford will take the field again on Friday, Feb. 20, when the team hosts the Samford Tournament and welcomes Valparaiso, Alabama State and Houston Baptist to the Samford Softball Field. The Bulldogs will open play against Valparaiso on Friday at 1:15 p.m.
Mercer 10, Winthrop 4
AUBURN, Ala. – In the final game of the Tiger Invitational, the Mercer University softball team was able to close out the competition with a strong performance against Winthrop University. The Bears topped the Eagles 10-4 through seven innings to move to 6-4 on the year.
Kirsten Stevens picked up her third win of the year, as she allowed six hits and eight strikeouts through five innings of work. Anna O'Neill had another strong outing of relief for the Bears, giving up one hit through two innings to close the game.
Winthrop started the scoring in the top of the first, scoring two runs off of two hits to open the game. Mercer answered quickly with a big first inning of their own, scoring five runs off of four hits and a Winthrop error. Quirisa Mauga got things going on a RBI single to left field scoring Meghan Rud, followed by a Caroline Taylor bases loaded walk to score Taylor Miller. Taylor Rogers singled through the left side for an RBI scoring Natalie Shiver. With the bases loaded, Jastine Alaan drew the walk scoring Mauga. Taylor took advantage of a passed ball scoring the final run of the inning, as the Bears took a commanding 5-2 lead to close the first inning of play.
Stevens worked out of a jam in the second with help from Riley Carter, Emma Andrew, and Shiver to prevent a run at the plate and leave the bases loaded for the Eagles. The Bears would go back to work on offense in the second. Miller scored off on an illegal pitch to open the inning, followed by a RBI single from Rogers to score Mauga. Mercer would capitalize on a pair of Winthrop errors as Shayla Kicklighter and Kaylynn Sloat would both score to push the lead to 9-2.
Winthrop added a run in the third off of a solo home run from Maddie Antone, before adding their final run of the game in the fifth off of a Sara Allan RBI single. The Bears answered with a run of their own in the fifth, as Alaan scored on a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 10-4. O'Neill entered the circle in the sixth allowing one hit and one walk through eight batters to end the game.
Mercer will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 20th, as the Bears head to Gainesville, Fla. to take part in the University of Florida Lipton Invitational where they will face Illinois St., Kansas, Liberty, and No. 1 Florida over the course of the weekend.
Chattanooga 7, Arkansas 3
CLERMONT, Fla. – In its final game at the Dot Richardson Invitational, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga softball team defeated Arkansas, 7-3 on Sunday Morning.
Both teams were scoreless for the first two innings but in the bottom of the third Marina Wilkerson doubled to right field. A sacrifice by Sarah Beth Roberts would allow Wilkerson to score, giving the Mocs a 1-0 lead.
The Razorbacks would answer with two runs of their own at the top of fourth. Not letting up at the bottom of the inning, Nicole Osterman would work her way around the bases as she hit a single, and advanced to second off an Arkansas error. A fly out to right field by Anyssa Robles would ultimately bring Osterman home to tie the game 2-2.
The Mocs would extend their lead as they proved unstoppable with five added RBI’s in the fifth inning. Sam Taylor slammed a triple to left field, letting Wilkerson and Courtney Ervin to Score.
Alyssa Taylor followed in with a single to bring home Sam Taylor. Osterman singled to bring in Alyssa Taylor for Chattanooga’s sixth RBI of the game.
UTC’s last run of the inning came off of a single hit by Robles scoring in Sarah Beth Roberts.
Preventing Arkansas from bringing across any more runs, the Mocs would maintain their 7-3 to win the game.
Chattanooga will look to continue its success next weekend in the South Alabama Invitational.