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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team closed out its four-game nonconference homestand against the BYU Cougars with a 6-4 defeat Saturday as the Bulldogs surrendered a pair of three-run innings in both the fourth and fifth frames in an early-season setback held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the loss, Samford (5-3) finished the four-game set with a 1-3 record. BYU (7-1), which is off to its best start in school history this season, scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to garner an insurmountable 6-3 lead Saturday.
 
The Cougars' rally started with a single to right field from Nate Favero. BYU then added an RBI double to left field from Brennon Lund, who scored a batter later as Tanner Chauncey slid a single through the left side of the diamond. Chauncey's RBI base-knock upped the Cougars' lead to 5-3.
 
BYU tallied its last score of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Colton Shaver sent a single up the middle into center field. Shaver's base hit allowed Chauncey to score to give the Cougars' their 6-3 advantage.
 
Samford's Heath Quinn and Richard Greene both finished 2-for-3 at the plate Saturday, while T.J. Dixon, Hunter Swilling and Austin Edens all added key hits.
 
The Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning and then tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth frame as Dixon notched an RBI triple to left-center field and Swilling followed with a run-scoring double to left.
 
All of BYU's damage incurred in the fourth inning came off the bat of cleanup hitter Bronson Larsen. With runners on first and third, Larsen connected on a home run to center field as the Cougars jumped out in front, 3-1.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Samford scored its fourth run of the contest as Quinn drove in Dixon from third base with a sacrifice fly. The score proved to be the final run of the game as BYU held on for the 6-4 decision.
 
Riley Gates (1-0) received the positive decision in relief for BYU, while Samford's Connor Radcliff (1-1) was saddled with the loss. Radcliff earned his second career start Saturday and finished the outing with three strikeouts, but five earned runs.
 
BYU committed the only error of the game, but outhit the Bulldogs, 11-7. Samford finished the contest with nine left on base.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs conclude their season-opening, nine-game homestand with a cross-town rivalry contest against the UAB Blazers in a highly-anticipated matchup to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

Box Score
Samford Stats