BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team took the series opener from Toledo, 5-3, Friday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
With the win, Samford improves to 19-15 on the season. Toledo falls to 15-18 with the loss.
 
Samford was led at the plate by Aaron Walton, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Jayden Davis, Stephen Klein and John Anderson also drove in a run each for the Bulldogs.
 
Turner Thompson (1-1) picked up the win on the mound for Samford, throwing a third of an inning in relief of starter Jacob Cravey. Ben Petschke pitched the final 2.0 innings without allowing a run to earn his seventh save of the season.
 
For Toledo, Owen Jackson homered, going 1-for-4 at the plate. Brennan McCune (1-4) took the loss on the mound for the Rockets, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits.
 
Toledo jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, plating one run in the second inning on a home run by Jackson and two runs in the third inning for a three-run advantage.
 
Samford tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Walton hit a two-run home run and Klein later singled to drive in Kace Garner to knot the score at 3-3.
 
The Bulldogs took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning. Davis reached base on an infield single, driving in Parker McDonald for a 4-3 Samford lead. Anderson later singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Davis to make the score 5-3.
 
Samford and Toledo will continue their series with a game Saturday afternoon. The contest is set for a 1 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.


 
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