Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Memphis baseball team plated six runs in the sixth inning to break open a close game on its way to an 11-6 win over Samford in the first game of a three-game series Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the loss, Samford drops to 1-3 on the young season. Memphis improves to 5-0 with the win.
 
Samford was led at the plate by freshman right fielder Heath Quinn, going 3-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. Quinn has now collected at least three hits in all four of Samford's games so far this season. Junior third baseman Tripp Martin drove in two runs with a home run in a 1-for-5 performance. Jared Watson also homered in the game for Samford.
 
Gage Pregno (0-1) pitched 1.1 innings in relief, giving up three runs on three hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford. Chase Traffica, Mikel Belcher, Patrick McGavin, Mark Donham and Hunter Swilling also pitched in the game for the Bulldogs.
 
For Memphis, Carter White went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI to lead the way at the plate. Drew Griffin went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI, while Jake Little was 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Tigers.
 
Jon Reed (1-0) pitched 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits to earn the win on the mound for Memphis. Ryan Garner tossed the final 4.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits to pick up his first save of the season.
 
Memphis jumped on top early with two runs in the first inning and one run in the second. In the first inning, with two outs, White homered to center field with Zach Willis on base for a 2-0 Memphis lead. In the second inning, Ethan Gross singled to drive in Bryce Beeler to make the score 3-0.
 
The Tigers added two runs in the top of the fourth inning to push their lead to 5-0. Griffin led the inning off with a solo home run. The second run of the inning scored when White singled up the middle to drive in Darien Tubbs for a five-run Memphis lead.
 
Samford plated its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Quinn scored from third base when Danny Rodriguez grounded into a double play for Samford's first run of the game. Caleb Bryson later doubled down the left-field line to drive in Drew McWhorter to make the score 5-2.
 
Samford tied the score with three runs in the fifth inning. Martin hit a two-run home run with Watson on base for the first two runs of the inning. Quinn then homered to left field to knot the score at 5-5.
 
Memphis took control of the game with six runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kane Barrow was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the inning's first run. Little later singled to drive in White and Tucker Tubbs to make the score 8-5. Griffin later doubled with the bases loaded to drive in Gross, Little and Barrow for an 11-5 Memphis lead.
 
Samford added one final run in the bottom of the ninth inning to make the final score 11-6. With two outs, Watson homered to left field for the game's final run.
 
Samford and Memphis will continue their series with a game Saturday at 2 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Live stats for all the game will be available at www.samfordsports.com. Fans can also watch the game live online via Samford Sports TV at www.samfordsports.com/showcase.