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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Samford senior first baseman Austin Edens turned in a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, including two runs scored, four RBI and the game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning Tuesday, as the Bulldogs registered a 7-5 home triumph against the UAB Blazers in a crosstown-rivalry contest held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Edens, who is the NCAA's active career leader in home runs with 51, became Samford's all-time leader in RBI with his demonstrative outing Tuesday. The Bulldogs' native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, increased his career RBI total to 184 and surpassed former Samford-great Heath Quinn (181) in the category.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Samford (25-21) opened the frame with a single from junior Troy Dixon. The Bulldogs' freshman Brooks Carlson then drew a walk to bring Edens to the plate with runners on first and second with nobody out.
 
Edens, who has already hit seven home runs this season, then sent a 2-0 offering from Troy Cordrey well over the wall in left center field for a three-run homer. Edens' blast proved to be the game-winner as he also set Samford's all-time RBI record.
 
The Bulldogs went on to tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ayrton Schafer and Max Pinto posted back-to-back doubles. Samford's four-run, four-hit frame gave the Bulldogs a 6-4 advantage.
 
Down the stretch, both teams were able to add a run in the seventh, but Samford's Wyatt Burns entered the game in the eighth inning and shut the door on UAB (19-23) for his seventh save of the season.
 
Burns struck out four of the six hitters he faced and didn't allow a single base-runner.
 
The Bulldogs' Josh Rich (2-4) earned the victory on the mound, his second against the Blazers this season. He also tallied the win March 27, as Samford posted an 8-2 triumph over UAB at Regions Field.
 
Since 2009, the Bulldogs own a decisive 15-2 record against UAB.
 
Samford's Edens, Carlson and Anthony Mulrine all posted multi-hit performances Tuesday. The Bulldogs' Dixon, Carlson and Edens scored two runs each, while Samford moved to 15-11 at home this season.
 
UAB scored four runs in the fifth and a single score in the seventh. The Blazers' Brett Blackwood led the way offensively with a 2-for-5 outing at the dish. He also drove in a pair of runs and scored once.
 
Kyle Davis (0-1) was issued the loss on the mound. He allowed three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of action.
 
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs begin a huge SoCon series against the Wofford Terriers to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford and Wofford are currently tied for second place in the SoCon standings.
 
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