BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Samford Bulldogs erupted for six runs in the fourth inning to erase an early deficit and cruised to a 10-4 victory over the Virginia Military Institute Keydets in a Southern Conference matchup Friday night at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium.

The win improved Samford to 15-17 overall, while the Keydets, who entered with the better record, fell to 24-9.

The game’s pivotal shift came in the bottom of the fourth. Trailing 4-3, the Bulldogs sent 10 men to the plate against VMI starter Justin Spiegel and reliever Trace Monroe. The inning was fueled by timely hitting and patience, beginning with a leadoff single by Kade McDonald. After a hit-by-pitch and a flyout, Pierce Dutton worked a walk to load the bases.

Andrew Souders then delivered a sharp single to third base to tie the game. Cade Carr followed with another single to right, giving Samford its first lead at 5-4. Trey Higgins added a sacrifice fly to center field, and when the dust settled, Samford held a 6-4 advantage. The Bulldogs never looked back, adding two more in the fifth on a fielder’s choice by Dutton and another sac fly from Souders, and single runs in the eighth on a solo home run by Carr and an RBI single from McDonald.

Samford’s offensive outburst was backed by a strong combined effort from its bullpen. Starter Joseph Lee worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits while striking out four. John Whitney was dominant in relief, earning the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out five. Zak Spurrier closed out the final two innings, allowing one run.

Luke Boykin, named Samford’s top star, broke out of a recent slump in a major way. After going hitless in his previous three games, the left fielder went 2 for 4 with a pivotal two-run homer in the second inning that cut VMI’s early lead to 4-2. He also added a double and scored a run. Carr finished 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs, and Higgins went 2 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

For VMI, which managed only five hits, Grayson Fitzwater provided a bright spot. His solo home run to right field in the third inning was one of his two hits on the night. The Keydets had jumped ahead early, scoring four unearned runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit, capitalizing on two walks, a hit batter, an error and a run-scoring walk.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-5 VMI victory, though the organization’s ELO rating system gave Samford a 70.2% probability to win.

The two teams continue their three-game conference series Saturday afternoon in Birmingham.