Despite a five-run sixth inning, the Trojans couldn’t over Samford and lost 8-6 on Wednesday.

The Trojans scored five runs in the bottom to fifth to even the score at six, but the Bulldogs answered with two runs in the seventh to seal the win.

“We are never out of a ballgame,” said Trojans head coach Beth Mullins. “We have to do a better job of having quality at bats at the beginning of the game. We should never be put in a spot that we got put in.”

Troy starting pitcher Claire Graves struggled in her 3.1 innings of work. Graves allowed three runs on five hits. She was replaced by Peyton Glover who lasted three innings and took the loss allowing five runs on six hits.

“We didn’t do a good job at starting the game fast,” Mullins said. “We waited until the fifth inning to show up. When you do that you’re kind of putting yourself in a tough situation.”

The Bulldogs jumped on Glover in the first inning to the tone of two runs on four hits to take the 2-0 lead over the Trojans. Abbie Miranda singled down the line to drive in the Bulldogs first run and Abby Sweeney drove in the second run on a fielder’s choice to shortstop.

Bulldog starting pitcher Mollie Hanson shut down the Trojans offense in the first two innings and it wasn’t until the third inning that the Trojan offense broke through for their first run.

Hannah Day singled up the middle, scoring Kate Benton to bring the score to 2-1 heading into the fourth inning.

The Bulldogs answered quickly in the top half the fourth. They totaled four runs on five hits to again stretch their lead to 6-1.

The Trojans, down 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth, battled back to even the score at six. The Trojans scored five runs on five hits. After Bailey Burk scored on a wild pitch, Kate Benton singled to shortstop with the bases loaded scoring Amanda Winters from third base. Carli Kayler followed that up with a bases-clearing double with the bases loaded scoring Kate Benton and Erica Davis to even the score at 6-6.

The Bulldogs retook the lead in the top of the seventh when Anna Yantis singled in Lexie Higgins and Kelsey Royalty.

The Trojans went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning to give the Bulldogs the 8-6 win.

The Trojans managed nine hits on Wednesday. Benton and Kayler had two hits a piece, while Kayler tallied three RBI’s.

The Trojans will return to action on Saturday in a key Sun Belt Conference matchup with Texas State in a double-header beginning at 1 p.m.

“This weekends games are going to be good games,” Mullins said. “We have to go out there an play really good softball to win ball games the rest of this year.”