CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Samford pitcher Joseph Lee threw a one-hit shutout and Trey Higgins homered twice as the Bulldog baseball team opened Southern Conference play with an impressive 11-0 win in seven innings Friday afternoon at Western Carolina.
 
With the win, Samford improved its record to 9-11 overall and 1-0 in SoCon play. Western Carolina fell to 15-8 overall and 0-1 in league play.
 
Lee (1-0) pitched the complete 7.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters to earn his first win of the season. Lee allowed just two walks and faced 23 batters, just two over the minimum for a seven-inning game.
 
"That was as close to a complete performance as you will see for our guys in all phases," Samford head coach Tony David said. "It all starts with Joe Lee on the mound. He's been consistent for us and has given us a chance every time out but that was domination. Lots of good at bats early but Higgins' blasts early helped set the tone at the plate."
 
Higgins went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and five RBI to lead Samford at the plate. Jake Souders drove in three runs in a 1-for-2 performance. Jeffrey Ince, Luke Boykin and Gus Gandy drove in a run each for the Bulldogs. The 11 runs are tied for the most scored by Samford this season.
 
"We have a veteran group of hitters that we really believe in at the plate," David said. "The last couple games we have gotten back to our game which is driving the ball to the gaps and over the fence. We took our hit by pitches and did a great job of continuing to add runs. There's no better way to get conference play started obviously. But it's just one game and we came here to win a series. Coach Beck does a great job and has a really good group."
 
For Western Carolina, Jackson Lyda has the lone hit, going 1-for-3 at the plate. Carter Burnette (2-3) pitched 4.0 innings, giving up nine runs on nine hits to take the loss on the mound for the Catamounts.
 
Higgins put Samford on top early with a two-run home run in the top of the second inning. In the third inning, Souders singled to drive in a run and Boykin had a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0. Higgins then hit a three-run home run to left field to push the lead to 7-0.
 
Samford added two runs in the fourth inning when Parker McDonald scored on a ground out by Ince and Gandy scored on a sacrifice fly by Souders to make it 9-0. In the sixth inning, Gandy singled to drive in McDonald and Gandy later scored from third when Souders was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to push the lead to 11-0.
 
The teams will continue the series with a game Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT). Fans can follow the game online via live stats. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: 2026 SCHEDULE.
 
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