Game 1: Furman 5, Samford 1

Game 2: Samford 11, Furman 5

Greenville, S.C. -- Sophomore Emma Ogburn belted a three-run homer and drove in four runs in game one to help Furman hand Samford its first loss in Southern Conference play as the Paladins and Bulldogs split a doubleheader 5-1, 5-11 on Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.

Sunday's rubber game of the three-game series is set for 1 p.m.

GAME 1
Furman scored five unanswered runs and got an outstanding outing the circle from sophomore Lindsey Bert to give the Bulldogs their first league loss in seven games in the opener.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the second as Abbie Miranda doubled to open the frame and scored on Abby Sweeney's single up the middle.

Furman answered quickly in the bottom of the second. Hannah Reynolds doubled into the gap and advanced to third base on Elise Smith's single. Ogburn followed with a single to center field to tie the game. With two outs, Candace Johnson laced a double to the opposite field gap to score Smith and give Furman a 2-1 advantage.

Bert, who allowed just one run on six hits over seven innings, held the Bulldogs to just three hits the rest of the way to earn the win. She did not allow a walk while registering eight strikeouts on the afternoon.

The Paladins added insurance runs in the sixth inning when AnnaRose Borrelli and Elise Smith reached on singles before Ogburn belted a three-run shot over the left field wall for her second homer of the season.

Mollie Hanson (13-8) took the loss for Samford giving up five runs on eight hits in six innings. Shelby Maze recorded two hits for the Bulldogs.

Johnson, Smiith and Ogburn each posted two hits for the Paladins.

GAME 2
In the nightcap, Samford rallied from a 4-0 deficit to down the Paladins 11-5.

With Furman holding a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Megan Dowdy singled and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Callie Brister followed with the first of four consecutive doubles by the Bulldogs, including a game-tying RBI double from Caitlin Bice that chased starter Emily Demonte.

The offensive outburst continued in the sixth inning as Dowdy opened the inning with a double, Maze reached on a bunt single and Brister loaded the bases by reaching on a Furman error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Miranda drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly off of reliever Lindsey Bert before Bice doubled in a run and the Bulldogs scored again on a dropped fly ball to center field. Samford added four runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Sweeney's two-run base hit.

Bert (11-12) suffered the loss allowing seven runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings of relief, while Samford reliever Grey Adams (2-2) surrendered only one run in 5.2 innings of work to take the win.

Bice led Samford's (22-16, 7-1 SoCon) 18-hit attack with three doubles, while Sweeney, Dowdy and Maze also collected three hits apiece.

Elise Smith doubled in two runs as part of a three-run first for the Paladins (20-21, 3-5 SoCon) and Taylor Collins clubbed a second inning home run, her third of the week. Reynolds went 2-for-4 with two runs.

Admission to Furman softball at Pepsi Stadium is free. Sunday's game will be streamed live on the SoCon Digital Network with live statistics available through StatBroadcast. Links to the video stream and live stats are available at FurmanPaladins.com.


Jordan Caskey, Furman Sports Information