BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Elena Escobar and Maci Birdyshaw turned in strong pitching performances to lead the University of North Alabama softball team to a pair of wins in the opening day of the Samford Bulldog Tournament.

The Lions downed host Samford 2-1 in the opener, then rode a six-run first inning to a 6-2 win over Southern Indiana in the second game.

With the wins, the Lions are now 8-1 overall enterind Sunday's games against Southern Indiana and IUPUI.

Against Samford, UNA got a run in the top of the first inning when Felicity Frame reached on a fielding error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Hailey Jones double.

The Lions added a second run in the second inning as Haven Kirby got a leadoff single, Mackenzie Patterson was hit by pitch, both runners moved up on a Ryleigh Boyett sacrifice bunt and Kirby scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Brown.

The Bulldogs cut the UNA lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning. UNA's Elena Escobar had retired the games first seven batters in order but Samford got a one-out single from Lindsey Nelson, followed by a Kinley Pate single to make it 2-1.

Escobar (3-0) got the win, allowing one run on three hits over seven complete innings. She struckout six batters.

The Lions out-hit the Bulldogs seven to three, withe Sidney Bevis leading the way with two hits.

UNA is now 8-1 all-time against Samford.

Against Southern Indiana, the Lions again took an early lead with six runs in the first inning.

Bevis, Jones and Brooke Burback all singled to load the bases. Haven Kirby walked to force in a run and Patterson brought in the second run with a sacrifice fly. After a Georgia Land single, Boyett walked to force in a third run. Danielle Taitt, Frame and Bevis then all drew consecutive walks to keep the scoring fest going.

Down 6-0, SIU got single runs in the second and fourth innings.

Birdyshaw alowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. She walked three batters and had one strikeout.

UNA plays Southern Indiana at 12:30 Sunday and IUPUI at 3:00 p.m.