TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team dropped a 16-2 decision in seven innings at eighth-ranked Alabama Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
 
With the loss, Samford fell to 14-17 on the season. Alabama improved to 26-8 with the win.
 
Samford was led in the loss by Jackson Harris, going 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. Parker McDonald also drove in a run, going 1-for-2 at the plate. Will Andre (1-1) pitched a third of an inning, giving up four runs on four hits to take the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs.
 
For Alabama, Eric Hines went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Luke Vaughn and Chade Kroberger also homered in the game for the Crimson Tide. J.T. Blackwood (1-1) earned the win on the mound, tossing 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.
 
Alabama jumped on top early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jason Torres singled to drive in two runs. Hines had an RBI single and Kroberger drove in a run with a fielder's choice as Alabama grabbed an early 4-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second inning, Samford came back with two runs to cut the lead in half. Harris doubled to right-center field to drive in Gus Gandy for Samford's first run of the game. McDonald then singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Harris to cut the lead to 4-2.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Alabama added four more runs to push the lead to 8-2. Vaughn hit a three-run home run and Kroberger followed that up with a solo homer for a six-run Alabama lead.
 
The Crimson Tide tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 12-2. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron drove in a run each. Fowler and Lebron later scored on a Samford error for a 10-run Alabama lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hines hit a two-run home run to right-center field to increase the Alabama lead to 14-2. Peyton Steele then doubled to drive in two runs to make the score 16-2.
 
Samford will return home to host VMI in a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend. The teams are scheduled to play Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
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