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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team nearly registered a three-game sweep in its opening series of the 2017 season Sunday, but the Bulldogs surrendered four unearned runs in the final five innings of play to drop a 6-4 decision to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in the final matchup of the set held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Samford (2-1) used a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning to garner a 4-1 lead. Sophomore second baseman Troy Dixon jumpstarted the rally with a bunt single to first base. He later scored on a wild pitch from UNC Asheville (1-2) starter Spencer Orr.
 
Next up in the inning, Samford's Kevin Williams, Jr., and Ayrton Schafer powered back-to-back home runs. Williams' round-tripper proved to be his second of the season and cleared the wall with ease in left-center field. Williams, Samford's talented junior left fielder from Miami, Florida, has already hit two home runs this season and is batting .444 on the year.
 
Schafer, the Bulldogs' true freshman right fielder out of Collierville, Tennessee, blasted his third home run in three games this season. Sunday's bomb carried out to right field and gave Samford its early 4-1 advantage in the contest.
 
The Bulldogs' Stephen Jones started the game on the mound and only allowed one run on a solo homer in the fourth inning. He pitched four innings, only gave up three hits and finished with a trio of strikeouts.
 
UNC Asheville answered Samford's four-run fourth with two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to knot the game at 4-4.
 
Samford committed three errors Sunday and only two of UNC Asheville's six runs were earned. Designated hitter Chris Troost paced his squad with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate and one run scored. Shortstop Carmine Pagano also proved to be a big boost for UNC Asheville with two runs scored and an RBI.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, UNC Asheville was able to push home the two decisive runs as Samford walked in a pair of hitters with the bases loaded. Pagano reached on an error in the frame and later scored the game-winning run with two outs.
 
The Bulldogs' Tristan Widra (0-1) hurled two solid innings before running into some trouble in the ninth. He was credited with the loss.
 
UNC Asheville's Kole Harris (1-0) tallied the victory, while left fielder turned relief pitcher Justin Woods earned his first save of the season.
 
Samford tallied a game-high 10 hits Sunday. Both T.J. Dixon and Branden Fryman turned in 2-for-5 outings at the plate, while designated hitter Grant Colton went a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored. The Bulldogs' Ben Carrick also ripped a run-scoring double to deep center field.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Troy Trojans to Joe Lee Griffin Field for an in-state matchup.
 
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