BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Samford Bulldogs capitalized on early control issues by Belmont pitching and cruised to a 10-1 victory Saturday at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium, securing a series win after the teams split a doubleheader the previous day.

The most important part of the game unfolded immediately, as Samford’s aggressive approach at the plate and on the basepaths in the first two innings built an insurmountable lead. Belmont starter Sam Heyman struggled with his command, walking two and hitting a batter in the bottom of the first. Garrett Gandy walked, stole second, and eventually scored on an RBI single by Stephen Carr. Lucas Boykin added a run-scoring fielder’s choice before a double steal – with Boykin taking second and John Anderson Souders stealing home – capped a three-run inning for a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs (2-1) broke the game open in the second, sending eight men to the plate and scoring three more runs on three hits, a walk, and a passed ball. Gandy drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, and Andrew Harris followed with an RBI double before Souders singled him home to make it 6-0. The early outburst rendered the rest of the game a formality, as Samford pitchers limited the Bruins (1-2) to just three hits.

Belmont’s lone run came in the sixth inning. Landon Godsey walked, Michael Lareau was hit by a pitch, and Brody Langlotz delivered an RBI single up the middle. That was the extent of the Bruins’ offense, as they went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times.

Samford added two unearned runs in the seventh, aided by a Belmont throwing error, and put the game fully out of reach in the eighth on Carr’s two-run double down the left-field line. Carr finished with three RBIs, while Souders scored three runs and stole three bases. Harris and Boykin each drove in two runs for the Bulldogs.

Charlie Davis had one of Belmont’s three hits, a single in the fourth inning. Jon Whitworth added a single in the seventh, but was erased on a line-drive double play.

Samford’s pitching staff, using five pitchers, effectively silenced a Belmont lineup that had produced 14 runs in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader. The Bulldogs’ patient approach forced Belmont to use five pitchers, with Heyman taking the loss.

The victory gave Samford a 2-1 series win to open the season. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Samford had a 69.10 percent probability to win the contest.

Belmont will look to rebound when it hosts Bellarmine on Tuesday. Samford’s next game is also Tuesday, a home matchup against Alabama.