Box Score ERIC WRIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEW
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford baseball team scored a combined seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to break open a close game on its way to an 11-4 win over cross-town rival UAB Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
The win was Samford's seventh-straight in the series with the Blazers. Samford improves to 19-14 with the win, while UAB drops to 15-17.
 
Samford pitcher Eric Wright (3-1) bounced back from a rocky start to earn the win. Wright surrendered four runs in the first three innings. In those first three innings, Samford committed five errors, with three of those charged to Wright. After the third inning, however, Wright settled down and wound up pitching 8.0 innings, allowing four runs, just two earned, on eight hits and striking out six batters to earn the win.
 
“What a crazy outing for Eric,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “He really killed himself in those first three innings. I think they scored four runs with one ball hit out of the infield. And then after the third inning, he went out there and settled in. I was really pleased with the way he competed.”
 
C.K. Irby went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI to lead Samford at the plate. Phillip Ervin also homered, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. Tommy Corbin drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance, while Zeth Stone went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Bulldogs.
 
Chase Davis went 3-for-5 to lead the Blazers at the plate. Tanner Bryant, Tyler Mims and Jacob German drove in one run each for UAB. Chase Mallard (1-3) pitched 2.0 innings in relief, giving up three runs on three hits to take the loss on the mound for the Blazers.
 
UAB jumped on top first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Bryant reached base on a Samford error and later scored on another Bulldog error for the first run of the game. German reached base on a bunt single, driving in Adam Lau for a 2-0 Blazer lead.
 
Samford came back with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Ervin led the inning off with his ninth home run of the season to cut the UAB lead to 2-1. Durdaller then doubled to right-center field. Caleb Bryson then singled to center field, and Durdaller scored on a UAB error to tie the score. Austin Allison later singled to drive in Bryson to give Samford a one-run lead.
 
UAB came back to take the lead again with two runs in the third inning. Bryant was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in Davis to tie the score at 3-3. Mims later hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in John Frost for a 4-3 Blazer lead.
 
Samford tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Irby led the inning off with a solo home run to knot the score at 4-4.
 
The score remained tied until Samford plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Stone doubled to left-center field to lead off the inning. Corbin then singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Stone for a 5-4 Samford lead. Irby then hit his second homer of the game and his seventh of the season to push Samford's lead to 7-4.
 
The Bulldogs put the game away with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Corbin walked with the bases loaded to drive in Damon Waller for the first run of the inning. Jared Watson then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 9-4. Irby then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Stone for a 10-4 Samford lead. Brandon Powell then singled to left field to drive in Corbin to make the final score 11-4.
 
Samford will play again Wednesday evening, playing host to Troy at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. The game can also be seen online for free via Samford Sports TV at www.samfordsports.com/showcase. Live stats will also be available at www.samfordsports.com.