BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Samford Bulldogs overcame an early three-run deficit to defeat the Belmont Bruins 7-3 on Friday at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader.

Belmont’s Brody Langlo hit a solo home run in the second inning, and Cavan McMean added a two-run shot in the fifth. Samford responded in the third on Luke Boykin’s two-run homer that tied the game. Gus Gandy’s RBI triple in the fourth gave Samford the lead for good.

Boykin added a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh, and Trey Higgins sealed the win with a two-run homer in the eighth. Samford outhit Belmont 11-9. Both teams moved to 1-1 on the season.