Samford’s softball team has been on a rollercoaster ride this season, with the team having the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
The nonconference slate was very back-and-forth regarding wins and losses.
The team experienced what sophomore infielder Grier Bruce calls “a nothing to lose situation” in playing big-name SEC schools like Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss.
“These kinds of games allow for us to find our weak spots and fine-tune them, as well as test our limits and see what level of play we’re really capable of,” Bruce said.
While the team was outplayed by the Crimson Tide and the Georgia side, they overcame the Lady Rebels with a 3-0 victory.
While nonconference play was a mixed bag, as Samford suffered a five-game losing streak at one point, the team has bounced back in conference play. The team swept Mercer in Birmingham but dropped two out of three to Western Carolina in Cullowhee. With the 4-2 conference record, the Lady Bulldogs are tied for second in the SoCon with Furman.
Despite the early adversity, Bruce takes the challenges and setbacks the team’s experienced with a grain of salt, saying that “the challenges we worked through really unified us. We learned to really lean on each other when struggles arise. A bond of trust blossomed there.”
With hitters like Logan Champion (.348, 18 RBIs), Sarah Squillace (.327, 9 RBIs), and two-way star McKenzie Newcomb, the Bulldogs’ talent is certainly present for a championship. With a favorable conference schedule and a healthy starting 9, the team will look to be right back in the SoCon Championship hunt sooner rather than later.
“The one thing I love about the team is that there isn’t any disingenuousness in the support, that everyone truly wants the other to do their best,” Bruce said.
The Bulldogs will be looking to build on this team spirit in their three-game series against ETSU, which begins with a doubleheader in Birmingham Thursday, April 6th.
Staff Writer (Sports)
