BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come from behind for a 5-4 win over 22^nd-ranked Wofford in the first game of a three-game Southern Conference series Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 19-20 overall and 6-4 in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs are now 8-2 on the season in games decided by two runs or less. Wofford falls to 30-12 overall and 8-2 in league action.
 
Entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Samford trailed, 4-2. Andrew Bennett singled to right field with the bases loaded, driving in Stephen Klein and Colton Ledbetter to tie the score at 4-4. Will David then scored the eventual game-winning run when Garrett Staton reached base on a Wofford error. In the top of the ninth inning, Wofford had a runner on first base with one out, but Samford closer Carson Hobbs got Brice Martinez to ground into a double play, ending the threat and giving Samford the 5-4 victory.
 
Jacob Cravey started the game on the mound for Samford, pitching 7.0 strong innings, giving up four runs on four hits. Brody Westbrooks (3-2) earned the win on the mound, tossing an inning of hitless relief. Carson Hobbs pitched the final inning to pick up his eighth save of the season,
 
"It's one of those days where Jacob Cravey didn't have his absolute best stuff on the mound," Samford head coach Tony David said. "They're lead-off guy got on the first three innings, the second inning he left him out there and didn't give up a run. After that, just an incredible job by Cravey giving us seven innings. We wanted to get him out of there, we feel good about Brody. Brody's done a good job for us, he threw up a zero there and then obviously Hobbs is our guy (to close the game)."
 
Samford was led at the plate by Towns King, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Garrett Howe and David had two hits each. Bennett drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.
 
"I brought the guys in before the bottom of the eighth and just talked about, we were playing well, it was a good game, we had a lot of good at-bats, we just needed that one hit with runners in scoring position," David said. "And I've been saying it all year long, when it's a close game, we have finished, almost every time. So, this is a big one, a top-25 team came in here and it was a big win for our guys."
 
For Wofford, Lawson Hill went 2-for-3 at the plate. Ryan Galanie drove in three runs, going 1-for-3 with a home run for the Terriers. Dalton Rhadans (5-3) took the loss on the mound for Wofford, pitching 1.0 inning, giving up one run on one hit.
 
Wofford took the lead first with two runs in the top of the first inning. Galanie homered to right-center field with Nolen Hester on base for a 2-0 Terrier lead.
 
Samford came back with a run in the first inning and another run in the second inning to knot the score at 2-2. In the first inning, King singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Howe to make the score 2-1. In the second inning, Kaden Dreier singled through the right side of the infield to drive in David for the tying run.
 
Wofford put two more runs on the board in the top of the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. John Dempsey scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Galanie for the first run of the inning. Hill then scored on a wild pitch for a two-run Terrier lead.
 
Samford and Wofford will continue their series with a game Saturday afternoon. The contest is set for a 2 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field and admission is free.


 
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