BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford Baseball Team opened its 2023 home slate with a dramatic 7-6 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Tuesday.
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 2-2 on the season while the Gamecocks drop to 1-3.
Stephen Klein and John Anderson both logged a three-hit performance, with Klein finishing a triple shy of the cycle. The Metarie, La. native logged accounted for the eventual game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Lucas Steele also went yard in the contest, finishing the day with two hits, two runs scored, and two runs driven in. Garrett Howe and Jayden Davis both registered a hit and an RBI, while Garrett Staton notched a hit and a run scored.
Timmy Watkins (1-0) picked up the win, needing just one pitch to get the bulldogs out of an eighth-inning jam. Carson Hobbs (1) grabbed his first save of the season, logging a 1-2-3 ninth and striking out a pair.
Starter Jake Holifield allowed just one run over the first two innings while Jacob Newman and Trey Sanders both tossed two shutout relief innings following Holifield's departure. Alex Gaeto added 0.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Mason Maners put the Gamecocks up 1-0 in the first with a solo home run, but the Bulldogs responded with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the frame. Klein brought home Staton, who reached base via double, with a one-out single to right. A passed ball and an RBI single from Howe accounted for the other two runs.
Steele added to the Bulldogs' lead in the third by launching a moon shot to left for his first collegiate home, giving Samford a 4-1 lead.
The Gamecocks hung five runs in the bottom of the seventh, with the final four coming in the unearned variety. JSU got its first run of the inning on a fielding error, which opened the door for an RBI groundout, a two-run single from Cal Johnson, and an RBI walk from Diego Gines to put them up 6-4.
Samford promptly answered by tallying a pair of runs in its next at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. Davis started the scoring action by cranking an RBI double to left that plated Anderson, who led off the inning with a single to left center. Hampton tied the game up one batter later with an RBI sac fly to right field.
Klein's game-winning blast led off the bottom of the eighth and marked his first of the season.
Samford finished the afternoon posted a .400 (14-35) batting average for the day, outhitting the Gamecocks 14-6. The Bulldogs batted .308 (4-13) with runners in scoring position and reached base to lead off an inning in five of eight frames.
The Bulldog pitching staff held the Gamecocks to just a .176 (6-34) average on the day, including a clip of .056 (1-18) with runners on and .077 (1-13) with runners in scoring position.
The Bulldogs will return to work on Friday, Feb. 24 when they play game one of three against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions. First pitch from Hammond, La. is set for 6:00 p.m. (CST).
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