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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team lost at home to the UAB Blazers for the first time since April 1, 2009, on Tuesday as the Bulldogs surrendered six heart-wrenching runs in the top of the fourth inning en route to a 9-3 setback in a crosstown-rivalry game held in front of 1,049 rapacious fans at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the loss, Samford (26-19) moved to 16-7 when playing at home this season and 8-4 against in-state opponents. Already this year, the Bulldogs have earned victories over No. 4 Auburn, Alabama, UAB (20-24), Troy, Alabama State and Alabama A&M.
 
This weekend, Samford will remain at home at Joe Lee Griffin Field to play host to the streaking Furman Paladins in a huge Southern Conference showdown. Furman, which has swept all three of its last conference series', currently sits just above the Bulldogs in the league standings.
 
The series will begin Friday at 6 p.m. (CT).
 
UAB snapped a four-game losing streak versus Samford on Tuesday. The Blazers tallied their first win in the series since May 7, 2014, and their first win at The Griff since April 1, 2009.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the contest with a run in the first inning and then another in the third.
 
UAB then did most of its damage in the top of the fourth inning as the Blazers exploded for six runs on five hits. Thomas Johns opened the stanza with a home run to left-center field before leadoff-man Colton Schultz powered his first homer of the season, a two-run shot, later in the frame. UAB also took advantage of a key Samford error to prolong the inning.
 
The Bulldogs tried to chip away at the Blazers' lead with one run in the bottom of the fifth, but ended up stranding too many runners on base in the contest. Samford finished the game with 12 men left on base.
 
UAB tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh inning to build its decisive 9-3 advantage.
 
Samford's starting pitcher Connor Radcliff turned in a solid outing Tuesday. He only allowed one run on two hits and notched a pair of strikeouts in three full innings of action. Radcliff left the game with a 2-1 advantage.
 
Luke Corbin (0-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season. He started on the mound in the top of the fourth frame and allowed two earned runs on one hit.
 
UAB's starter Austin Thomas (2-1) was awarded the victory. The Blazers' senior right-hander allowed a pair of earned runs Tuesday, but proved to be the pitcher of record during their six-run top of the fourth.
 
Offensively, Samford was paced by two-hit performances from Branden Fryman, Kevin Williams, Jr., and Troy Dixon. The Bulldogs also received base hits from Austin Edens and Taylor Garris. Edens, Samford's preseason All-American from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, drove in two of the team's three runs.
 
T.J. Dixon and younger brother, Troy Dixon, accounted for all three of the Bulldogs' runs. T.J. scored twice in the contest, while Troy crossed the plate once.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action this weekend as the Bulldogs remain at home for a huge weekend SoCon series against the red-hot Furman Paladins. The series opener will be held Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Furman has won nine straight SoCon games and is coming off three consecutive series sweeps. The final two games of this weekend's series will be held Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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