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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team scored four runs on one hit in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday as the big rally propelled the homestanding Bulldogs to a 6-2 series-opening victory against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in an in-state contest held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
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In the win,
Samford (8-11) received solid pitching performances from seniors
Cody Shelton,
Josh Rich and
Tristan Widra (2-1). Shelton started the game and only allowed one earned run in 4.1 innings of action, while Widra garnered the win by pitching the final four frames of the contest. He only allowed one earned run on three hits and tallied a pair of strikeouts.
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Samford's Rich came in to face a pair of batters in the fifth inning and retired them both.
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Alabama A&M (5-13) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning, but then Samford quickly answered with two scores of its own in the bottom half of the frame as sophomore designated hitter
Anthony Mulrine powered his team-leading fifth home run of the season down the left-field line. Mulrine's blast proved to be a two-run shot after
Luis Fuentes reached on an inning-opening error by second baseman Jonathan Smith II.
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Mulrine finished the game 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored.
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Samford's offensive attack was also paced by two-hit performances from
Brooks Carlson and
Taylor Garris. Both finished 2-for-4 in the game and scored a run, while Garris also drove in a run in the Bulldogs' key sixth inning.
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In the aforementioned sixth frame, Samford scored four runs with Garris' hit being the lone tally of the inning. The Bulldogs took advantage of five Alabama A&M walks during the rally.
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Samford's four-run sixth gave the Bulldogs a decisive 6-2 lead.
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Alabama A&M's starting pitcher
Clayton Warner (1-2) was issued the loss. He allowed six runs (only one earned) on six hits in the matchup.
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Samford and Alabama A&M are scheduled to square off in the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT) at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
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Box Score
Updated Stats
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