GREENVILLE (Interstat) — Samford used a pair of home runs in the 13th inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat Western Carolina 5-1 on Friday afternoon at Fluor Field at the West End.

The Bulldogs improved to 31-24 overall and evened the weekend Southern Conference series after a 9-5 win Thursday night. The Catamounts fell to 36-23.

Samford starter Mason Blasche turned in a dominant performance, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing one earned run on no hits while striking out six. He exited after a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt and a run-scoring single by Cameron Murray in the seventh inning that tied the game. John Malone relieved Blasche and got the final out of the seventh, then worked 4.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Zak Spurrier pitched the final two innings for the win, striking out three and allowing only a hit and a walk.

Western Carolina used a committee of pitchers. Evan Myers started and gave up one run on seven hits over five innings with six strikeouts. Bryant Kimbrell followed with 4.1 innings of two-hit relief, fanning six. Owen Austin faced one batter in the 10th, and Mason Snyder took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in 3.1 innings.

The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 from the seventh inning onward as both bullpens shut down the opposition. Samford had taken an early lead in the top of the first. Austin Ince doubled to right-center and scored on a double to left-center by Lucas Souders. The Bulldogs loaded the bases later in the inning but could not extend the lead.

Western Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Caleb Marshall was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single up the middle by Cameron Murray, who finished 4 for 5 with an RBI.

Neither team scored in the eighth, ninth or 10th innings. Samford threatened in the 10th when Luke Boykin was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was left stranded. In the 11th, Western Carolina put runners on second and third with one out after a walk and a wild pitch, but Murray struck out and Bradley Godfrey lined out to first.

The Bulldogs finally broke through in the 13th. With one out, John Gandy walked. Pinch hitter Andrew Whitney struck out attempting a bunt, but Ince was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Jackson Harris then launched his first home run of the season down the right-field line, scoring Gandy, Ince and himself for a 4-1 lead. Boykin followed with his 20th homer of the season to left-center, making it 5-1.

Harris finished 1 for 2 with three RBIs. Boykin went 3 for 6 with a homer and an RBI. Souders had two doubles and an RBI. For Western Carolina, Murray collected four hits and drove in the lone run.

Spurrier closed out the game in the bottom of the 13th, striking out two and stranding a runner at third after an error.

Samford returns to action Saturday in the series finale. Western Carolina will look to split the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Samford 7, Western Carolina 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Samford a 57.10 percent probability to win.