BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Samford scored 13 runs on 14 hits, using a four-run first inning and another four-run second to build an early lead, and the Bulldogs defeated Southern Conference rival Wofford 13-3 on Saturday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium.

The Bulldogs improved to 28-24 overall and 26-22 in the Southern Conference. The Terriers fell to 34-20 overall and 28-20 in conference play. Wofford had won the series opener 8-6 on Friday, while Samford won the second game 7-6 on Thursday.

Wofford struck first in the top of the first inning. C Collins singled to left field, and Niko Brini followed with a single through the left side. After a strikeout and a flyout, Manning was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Quarrie struck out swinging to end the inning with Wofford leading 3-0.

Samford answered immediately in the bottom half. Jeffrey Ince doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Carr was hit by a pitch, then Souders singled to second base to drive in Ince. Boykin singled to right field to score Carr, cutting the lead to 3-2. After a strikeout, Boykin advanced to second on a wild pitch and Souders scored on the same wild pitch, tying the game 3-3. Boykin then moved to third on another wild pitch, and Marshall hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Boykin, giving Samford a 4-3 lead.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the second inning. Dutton singled, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and after a Carr hit-by-pitch and a flyout, Boykin singled to right field to score Dutton for a 5-3 lead. Higgins singled up the middle to drive in Carr, making it 6-3. Champ Davis relieved Alston on the mound for Wofford, but Marshall doubled to right-center field, scoring Higgins and Boykin for an 8-3 advantage.

Wofford cut into the deficit in the third inning. Collins singled, Brini tripled to right field to score Collins, and Tribble hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Brini, making the score 8-5. However, the Terriers could not sustain the momentum. Brini homered to right field in the fifth inning to pull Wofford within 8-6, but that was the last run the Terriers would score.

Samford put the game away with a five-run seventh inning. McDonald singled, Gandy doubled, and Dutton singled to right field to drive in two runs, making it 10-6. After a pitching change, Ince doubled down the right-field line to score Dutton for an 11-6 lead. Ince advanced to third on a wild pitch, Carr walked, and Souders reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, scoring Ince for a 12-6 advantage. Boykin then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Carr, capping the scoring at 13-6.

Niko Brini led Wofford offensively, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a triple and two RBIs. Champ Davis threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out three. For Samford, Eddie Marshall went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Luke Boykin was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and Jeffrey Ince was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Samford used four pitchers, with Mason Blasche throwing 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts. John Malone tossed three innings of relief, allowing five hits and one earned run with three strikeouts, and Austin Tommasini recorded the final out in the seventh, striking out one.

Wofford had 10 hits in the game, but left eight runners on base and committed a costly error in the seventh inning that led to an unearned run.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Samford 6, Wofford 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Samford with a 51.20 percent probability to win.