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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team earned its second series victory of the young 2017 campaign Sunday as the Bulldogs battled to a 5-3 home win against the Indiana Hoosiers in a critical three-game, non-conference matchup held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the triumph, Samford (5-5) improved to 4-2 at home this season. The Bulldogs have been victorious in two of their three series' of the year, with their only loss coming on the road at No. 5-ranked Florida State. Samford opened the 2017 season with a series win over UNC Asheville.
 
Indiana (4-6-1) dropped to 2-4-1 in true road games this year. The Hoosiers have yet to play a contest on their home turf in Bloomington, Indiana.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead Sunday with a trio of runs scored in the bottom of the third inning.
 
Samford's Ryan Crockett, Taylor Garris and T.J. Dixon opened the frame with three straight hits, two of which occurred on perfectly-placed bunts. Crockett then scored on a throwing error to give the Bulldogs their initial 1-0 lead, while Garris crossed the plate on an RBI groundout and T.J. Dixon touched home after a wild pitch.
 
With a 3-0 advantage behind him, Samford's starting pitcher Stephen Jones (1-1) looked sharp on the mound and tallied his first victory of the season. The Bulldogs' sophomore right-hander only allowed an unearned run on four hits and struck out three Hoosiers in five innings of action. He left the game heading into the sixth frame with a 4-1 lead in the contest.
 
Samford's bullpen looked strong as well Sunday as juniors Erin Baldwin and Tristan Widra both earned time on the hill. Then, with Indiana trying to make a move in the seventh inning, the Bulldogs' victory was closed out by junior right-hander Wyatt Burns, who notched his fourth save of the season.
 
Burns struck out three and only allowed one hit in the win.
 
Samford's Garris paced the Bulldogs offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Garris has become a staple in the starting lineup as of late and is now hitting .316 on the season.
 
Austin Edens and Crockett both registered multi-hit outings Sunday, while T.J. Dixon, Branden Fryman, Kevin Williams, Jr., Troy Dixon and Anthony Mulrine also added hits as well.
 
Samford finished the game with 12 hits. Indiana was limited to eight.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Tuesday and Wednesday of this week as the Bulldogs play a two-game, home-and-home midweek series against the Alabama State Hornets.
 
Samford will play at home against Alabama State on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before traveling to Montgomery for a similar 6 p.m., matchup Wednesday to be held on the road at Alabama State.
 
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