JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Samford University baseball team hit five home runs on its way to a 13-7 win over ETSU in the final game of a three-game Southern Conference series Sunday afternoon at Thomas Stadium.
 
"This was a great bounce back game for our guys," Samford head coach Tony David said. "They hit us in the mouth again with a five-spot in the second inning, but our guys answered with he first of a bunch of big home runs. We swung it really well against a lot of good arms today in a game we had to have on the road against a really good team."
 
With the win, Samford improved its record to 13-11 overall and 1-2 in Southern Conference play. ETSU fell to 18-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.
 
Jeffrey Ince, Jake Souders, Parker McDonald, Gatlin Pitts and Trey Higgins each homered in the win for Samford. Ince went 3-for-6 with two RBI, McDonald went 3-for-5 with two RBI, Souders went 2-for-5 with two RBI, Higgins went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Pitts went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
 
Josh Leerssen (1-1) pitched 5.0 innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out nine batters to earn the win on the mound for Samford. Evan Steckmesser tossed 2.2 scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.
 
"Josh was lights out in relief again," David said. "He and Mason (Blasche) have shown they both can start or relieve at a high level."
 
ETSU hit three homers of its own, with Cody Miller, Cooper Torres and Tristan Curless all hitting home runs for the Bucs. Michael Harpster (2-2) pitched 2.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits to take the loss for ETSU.
 
Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the second inning when Ince reached base on a fielder's choice to drive in Higgins, and Gus Gandy scored on an error for a 2-0 Samford lead. ETSU answered with five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead.
 
The Bulldogs took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the third inning. Souders and Higgins both hit two-run homers as Samford took a 6-5 lead. Samford stretched its lead to 8-5 with a run each in the fifth and sixth inning. In the fifth inning Souders scored on a sacrifice fly by Pitts. In the sixth inning, Cade Carr doubled to drive in Gupton for a three-run Samford lead.
 
After ETSU cut the lead to 8-7 with two runs in the seventh inning, Samford stretched the lead to 12-7 with four runs in the eighth inning. McDonald hit a two-run home run and Ince and Pitts each hit solo homers as Samford took a five-run lead. Samford added one final run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Harris to make the final score 13-7.
 
Samford will travel to Starkville, Miss., to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Tuesday, Mar. 25. The game is set for a 6 p.m. start from Dudy-Noble Field.
 
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