GREENVILLE, S.C.—Samford senior right fielder Brandon Miller hit a pair of two-run home runs to lead the fourth-seeded Bulldog baseball team to a 12-7 win over top-seeded Appalachian State on the second day of the Southern Conference Tournament Thursday evening at Fluor Field.
 
Miller's two home runs give him 22 for the season, giving him sole possession of the national lead in the category. His first homer of the game went over the Certus Bank building beyond the 30-foot wall in left field. Miller's four RBI in the game give him 62 for the season, setting a new Samford record. Miller's RBI total breaks the previous mark of 61, set by teammate Saxon Butler last season.
 
Charles Basford (9-2) pitched 6.2 innings, giving up seven runs, just two earned, on nine hits and striking out four batters to earn the win. Tyler Vanderheiden, Joseph Burns and C.K. Irby also saw time on the mound for Samford.
 
“This was a good night offensively for us,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “I thought Basford battled like crazy. Both innings (fifth and seventh) had mistakes in them, but he really competed, and I am really proud of him. We just had a lot of positives tonight.”
 
In addition to Miller's performance, Austin Allison went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Christiaan Durdaller went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI, while Zeth Stone and Butler had two hits and an RBI each. Irby also went 2-for-5 for the Bulldogs.
 
Appalachian State was led at the plate by Hector Crespo, Tyler Zupcic and Daniel Kassouf with two hits each. Trey Holmes hit a two-run home run in 1-for-4 performance. Seth Grant (6-3) pitched 4.2 innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits to take the loss.
 
Samford jumped on top first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Phillip Ervin singled and Miller walked to start the inning. With one out in the inning, Durdaller doubled to center field to drive in Ervin and Miller for a 2-0 Samford lead. Allison then doubled to drive in Durdaller to make the score 3-0.
 
The Bulldogs added a run in the third inning. Stone led the inning off with a triple down the right-field line. Stone then scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 Samford lead.
 
Appalachian State answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the score at 4-4. With one out in the inning, Will Callaway reached base on a Samford error to start the rally. Kassouf then singled, moving Callaway to third base. Tyler Tewell then doubled to drive in Callaway for ASU's first run of the game. Kassouf then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Dowdy. Holmes then hit a two-run homer to left field to tie the score.
 
Samford plated four more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Tommy Corbin singled to lead off the inning and then moved to second base on a one-out walk by Brad Moss. Butler then singled to drive in Corbin to give Samford a 5-4 lead. Moss then scored from third base when Ervin reached base on a fielder's choice. Miller then hit a two-run home run to left field for an 8-4 Samford lead.
 
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Butler doubled. With two outs in the inning, Miller hit his second home run of the game for a 10-4 Samford lead.
 
Appalachian State came back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the Samford lead to 10-7. Preston Troutman and Crespo both scored on a Samford error. Zupcic later scored on a wild pitch to bring ASU to within three runs.
 
Samford added two runs in the top of the eighth inning to push its lead to 12-7. Stone doubled to drive in Allison for the first run of the inning. Moss then singled to drive in Stone for a five-run Samford lead.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 37-21 on the season, tying the school record for wins in a season. Appalachian State drops to 39-15 with the loss.
 
Samford advances to Saturday's semifinal round. The Bulldogs will take on the winner of Friday's game between Furman and Appalachian State Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. (CT).