Box Score
Updated Stats

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The Samford University baseball team used a key four-run, sixth-inning rally to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, 8-6, to even the three-game weekend series at one win apiece here at Hoglund Ballpark. The decisive third game of the series will be held Sunday at noon (CT) on ESPN3.
 
In the top of the sixth inning Saturday, Samford (14-9) sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored four huge runs on five hits to earn a 7-5 advantage in the contest. The Bulldogs received clutch hits from Austin Edens, Taylor Garris, Jordan Fucci, Sam Teague and Anthony Mulrine during the rally.
 
Samford's Fucci also stole home during the four-run sixth inning.
 
Edens, the Bulldogs' junior preseason All-American, finished 3-for-4 at the dish with four RBI and a momentous three-run homer in the top of the first inning to give Samford an early 3-0 lead. Edens' home run proved to be his seventh of the season as he finished the game just a triple shy of the cycle. He is now batting .345 this year with a team-high 19 RBI.
 
Fucci turned in a big game for Samford with a 2-for-4 outing at the plate, as well as a pair of RBI. The Bulldogs' powerful sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky, blasted a pair of doubles Saturday and recorded a momentum-turning steal of home in the sixth inning.
 
With nobody out and runners on second and third, Fucci was actually picked off of third base, but hightailed it towards home and beat the tag from catcher Jaxx Groshans on the play. Fucci's stolen base proved to be his first of the season.
 
Kansas (10-12) only suffered its fifth loss at home Saturday. The Jayhawks posted 11 hits in the game, but Samford bested them with 12 hits in the contest.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kansas scored three runs to garner a 5-3 advantage over the Bulldogs. The Jayhawks' offense was paced by Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi on Saturday as he finished 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI. Souza-Paaluhi is Kansas' true freshman designated hitter from Mililani, Hawaii.
 
Samford held a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when junior right-hander Wyatt Burns entered the game with nobody out and runners on first and second. Burns was then able to work his way out of the inning without allowing a single run. The Bulldogs' Garris turned a big-time double play in the frame to aid in the process.
 
Burns went on to shut out Kansas in the ninth inning as well to pick up the vaunted two-inning save. Burns currently leads the nation with 10 saves this season.
 
Senior Jared Brasher (1-0) earned the victory for Samford, while Kansas' Tyler Davis (0-1) was issued the loss. Brasher only allowed two hits in three innings pitched for the Bulldogs and struck out five Jayhawks.
 
Samford and Kansas will square off in the rubber game of this weekend's series Sunday at noon (CT) as the victor will claim the three-game nonconference set being held at Kansas' Hoglund Ballpark.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordBaseball and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

Box Score
Updated Stats