KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — The Kennesaw State Owls erupted for six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday afternoon, turning a tight contest into a decisive 8-3 victory over the Samford Bulldogs at Fred Stillwell Stadium.

The game, which began as a pitcher’s duel, was ultimately decided by Kennesaw State’s relentless offense, which piled up 13 hits against three Samford pitchers.

Samford (5-8) struck first, manufacturing a run in the opening inning without a hit. Jeffrey Ince singled, advanced to third on two productive outs and scored on a wild pitch by Kennesaw State starter Cooper McMullen. The Bulldogs added to their lead in the third when Trey Higgins launched a solo home run to right-center field.

Kennesaw State (6-6) began chipping away in the third. Jackson Bradfield singled and scored, along with Cooper Williams, on a two-run single by James McGee, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Samford regained a two-run edge in the sixth. Ince doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Cade Carr’s sacrifice fly, making it 3-2. That chased McMullen, who allowed three runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.

The Owls’ bullpen took over from there. Daniel Powell and Harry Cain combined for 3 2/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out four and preserving the one-run margin for the offense to breakthrough.

The most important part of the game came in the seventh and eighth innings. Kennesaw State tied it against Samford reliever John Malone in the seventh. Wesley Alig doubled and scored on a two-run single by Williams, giving the Owls a 4-3 lead.

The floodgates opened in the eighth. With Malone still on the mound, the Owls sent 10 men to the plate. Grayson McCollum drove in a run with a double, and pinch-hitter Avery Wilson delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single up the middle that stretched the lead to 7-3. Shamaar McDuffie added an RBI fielder’s choice to cap the six-run outburst, which featured four hits and a walk.

Samford’s offense, which managed only four hits, was silenced after the sixth. Cain set them down in order in the eighth, and after the Owls’ big inning, the Bulldogs went quietly in the ninth.

The victory moved Kennesaw State to .500 on the season, while Samford fell below that mark. The two teams are scheduled to continue their series with a doubleheader on Saturday.