Box Score
Updated Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team rallied to score eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday, including a base-clearing triple from senior T.J. Dixon, to lift the Bulldogs to a decisive 14-4 run-rule victory over the Alabama State Hornets in a nonconference contest held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the win, Samford (24-17) improved to 14-5 when playing at home this season. The Bulldogs also upped their record against in-state opponents to 8-3, while improving to 7-1 versus Alabama State (21-21) under the direction of Head Coach Casey Dunn.
 
Since 2011, Dunn's Samford squad boasts the highest winning percentage of all Division I programs in the state of Alabama. The Bulldogs have also had 19 players selected in the MLB Draft during the stretch.
 
Samford entered Wednesday's seventh inning with a 6-4 advantage over the Hornets. The Bulldogs then used back-to-back singles from Branden Fryman and Jordan Fucci to open the frame before Alabama State walked both Austin Edens and Taylor Garris.
 
Next up, Samford's Kevin Williams, Jr., notched a bases-loaded single followed by a two-RBI double from Ayrton Schafer. Fellow true freshman Anthony Mulrine then added another RBI double and Troy Dixon walked to load the bases.
 
With nobody out in the inning, the Bulldogs led 11-4 with the bags packed and T.J. Dixon at the plate. Dixon crushed a line-drive down the left-field line that cleared the bases for a triple and gave Samford its decisive 14-4 advantage. The Bulldogs led by 10 runs, therefore the run-rule was put into effect in the victory.
 
Samford, after scoring a school-record 31 runs at Alabama A&M on Tuesday, has now tallied 45 runs in its last two games. Already this week, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a total of 45-5.
 
Schafer proved to be a top performer Wednesday against Alabama State. Samford's true freshman designated hitter finished 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored. He also powered his sixth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
 
T.J. Dixon drove in a total of four runs in the contest, while crossing the plate once and going 2-for-5 at the dish. The Bulldogs' speedy centerfielder is now hitting .361 on the season with 61 hits and 16 stolen bases.
 
Samford's Fryman and Williams, Jr., also posted two-hit performances against the Hornets as Jordan Fucci, Edens and Mulrine all registered key base hits.
 
The Bulldogs' Hamp Skinner (1-0) earned his first collegiate start Wednesday and picked up the victory. Samford's true freshman lefty only allowed one hit in three innings, while striking out two.
 
Senior Jared Brasher entered the game in the top of the seventh and earned his first save of the season.
 
Alabama State's Terrell McCall (1-5) was saddled with the loss. He only allowed one earned run, but five runs crossed the plate during his stint on the mound. McCall left the game trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs resume Southern Conference play with a huge league series against the Western Carolina Catamounts to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Following Friday's series opener, the teams are scheduled to play Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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