Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A late comeback fell short as the Samford baseball team dropped a 10-7 decision to Western Carolina in the second game of a three-game Southern Conference series Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the loss, Samford drops to 26-17 overall and 10-7 in SoCon play. Western Carolina improves to 27-14 overall and 12-4 in league play. The series is now tied at one game apiece, with the rubber game of the series scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Samford was led offensively by Drew McWhorter and Heath Quinn, each going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Quinn hit two doubles in the contest. Caleb Bryson hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the ninth inning. Bryson went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Jared Watson also had two hits in the loss.
 
Samford starting pitcher Jared Brasher (2-3) pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on four hits to take the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs. Parker Curry, Luke Leeth and Phillip Flach also saw time on the mound for Samford. The Bulldog defense committed four errors in the game, giving WCU five unearned runs.
 
For Western Carolina, Adam Martin went 2-for-6 with a double and four RBI. Danny Bermudez had two hits and two RBI, Jacob Hoyle and two hits and one RBI, and Cody Jones added two hits for the Catamounts. T.J. Fussell (4-2) pitched 4.2 innings in relief, giving up four runs on five hits to pick up the win on the mound for the Catamounts.
 
Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. McWhorter singled to center field to drive in Watson for the game's first run. McWhorter later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter Swilling for a 2-0 Samford lead.
 
Western Carolina plated its first run of the contest in the top of the third inning. Aaron Attaway walked to lead off the inning and later scored when Martin reached base on a fielder's choice to cut the Samford lead to 2-1.
 
The Catamounts took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Martin drove in two runs, while Dykota Spiess and Bermudez drove in a run each to give Western Carolina a 5-2 lead.
 
Samford answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 5-3. Bryson singled up the middle to drive in McWhorter to cut the WCU lead to just two runs.
 
Western Carolina added one run in the seventh inning to push its lead to 6-3. The Catamounts then pulled away with two runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to make the score 10-3.
 
Samford answered with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to cut the lead to 10-7, but the Bulldogs could get no closer. Quinn singled down the left-field line to drive in Brandon Haarer for the first run of the inning. Bryson then hit a three-run homer with Quinn and Watson on base for the game's final three runs.
 
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from 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 viewed online via Samford Sports TV at www.samfordsports.com/showcase. Live stats will also be available at www.samfordsports.com.