BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The IUPUI softball team fell behind early and never fully recovered as the Jaguars fell to host Samford on day one of the Samford Bulldog Classic on Friday night (Feb. 24), 7-2. Samford built a 2-0 lead in the first inning and knocked around a trio of IUPUI pitchers for 13 hits in the win. 

Samford's Grier Bruce went 3-for-4 with five runs batted in and a pair of homers to lead the victors. Kayla Freiberg, Morgan Gilbert and Jaida Speth all had two hits in the defeat. 

Bruce staked Samford (3-8) to an early lead with an RBI single against IUPUI starter Carly Metcalf (0-3) as part of two runs in the opening frame. 

IUPUI (1-8) got a run back in the fourth as Kennedy Cowan drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Freiberg's infield single. After a punchout, Gilbert loaded the bases with an infield hit. Victoria Sivert reached on a fielder's choice and Cowan skated home on a throwing error to produce IUPUI's first run. However, Samford starter Lainey Baker (1-2) got back-to-back strikeouts to leave the bases loaded.

Bruce launched the first of two two-run homers in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Bulldog lead to 4-1. 

IUPUI struck again in the fifth as Speth flared a single to center and moved to second on a passed ball. After back-to-back strikeouts, Freiberg just missed a two-run homer of her own with a double off the wall, easily scoring Speth. 

IUPUI threatened again in the seventh as Speth reached on a one out single and later moved to third on Cowan's infield hit. However, Cowan was caught stealing to end the game, ending the rally. 

Speth extended her hitting streak to five straight games in the loss. Metcalf took the loss, yielding a pair of runs in the opening inning, while Alexa Holman allowed five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings of relief work. Isabelle Waggner tossed two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief. 

IUPUI will return to action on Saturday when the Jaguars face Samford and Southern Indiana on day two of the event.