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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Despite trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning on the road against the Furman Paladins on Thursday, the Samford University baseball team never relented in the Southern Conference contest held at Latham Stadium and rallied to score four runs in the final four innings of play en route to a thrilling 4-3 series-opening triumph.

Samford (13-14, 2-2 SoCon) closer Wyatt Burns (2-1) entered the game in the seventh inning and pitched 2.2 frames of scoreless baseball. The Bulldogs' talented Preseason All-SoCon selection struck out six of the 11 hitters he faced, including three straight in the ninth inning to close out the victory. Burns only allowed three hits in the contest.

Furman (13-13, 0-1 SoCon), which has been defeated in six straight outings, jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

The Paladins scored two quick runs in the bottom of the second and then added another tally in the third frame to garner an early advantage. Third baseman Jake Crawford led Furman with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Jason Costa and Brandon Elmy both posted two-hit outings.

Samford's Cody Shelton started Thursday's game on the mound and looked solid in the outing. The Bulldogs' senior All-SoCon performer only allowed three runs, but left the contest following the fifth inning down 3-0.

In the top of the sixth inning, Samford's offensive attack broke through with its opening run of the game as Troy Dixon scored from third base on an error by Paladin second baseman Sims Griffith. The Bulldogs then rallied for two more runs in the next frame as Sam Teague and Branden Fryman both drove in key scores.

Samford pounded out 12 hits Thursday and was led by true freshman Brooks Carlson with a 3-for-3 outing at the dish, including two doubles. Additionally, the Bulldogs received two-hit performances from Ayrton Schafer, Taylor Garris and Dixon. All three of the aforementioned players scored runs for Samford.

With the score deadlocked at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Carlson led off the stanza with a double in the gap to left-center field. Greg Mula, who pinch ran for Carlson, then advanced to third base as senior Austin Edens sent a single to right field.

Max Pinto, Samford's talented true freshman from Miami, Florida, strolled to the plate with one out in the inning and rifled a game-winning single through the left side of the infield to score Mula from third base. Pinto finished 1-for-4 at the plate Thursday, but came through with the biggest hit of the game.

Following the Bulldogs' run in the top of the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead, Burns worked his magic on the mound and rolled his way through the final two Furman frames for the victory.

Samford and Furman will continue play in this week's three-game SoCon series Friday at 3 p.m. (CT) as the teams face off in the second matchup of the set being held here at Latham Stadium.

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