Box score

MOBILE, Ala. – Samford used a six-run third inning to erase a 5-1 deficit and knock of University of South Alabama baseball 9-8 Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field.

After South Alabama (2-4) plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 5-1 lead, the Bulldogs answered in the top-half of the third inning with six runs off of USA starting pitcher Payton Gardner to take a 7-5 lead. Samford sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, which was highlighted by a two-run bases-loaded double by Austin Allison and two-run double by Phillip Ervin. Brandon Powell and Brad Moss also drove in runs in the inning on a fielder’s choice and base on balls, respectively.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 8-5 in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Saxon Butler that scored Zeth Stone, who walked to lead off the inning. Samford added their ninth run of the game on an RBI double by Kevin Putkonen.

Samford starter Charles Brasford (1-0) settled in after a shaky first inning and held the Jags scoreless for the next 5 2/3 innings. Basford allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks to earn the win. Arthur Strauss earned the save in one inning of relief.

Jaguar left-hander Phillip Byrd pitched six innings in relief of Gardner, and allowed two unearned runs on just one hit while striking out five and issuing two walks. Gardner (0-1) suffered the loss in three innings, allowing seven runs – three of which were unearned – on eight hits with a strikeout and a pair of walks.

 USA rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth off of Samford reliever Lex Rutledge. The Jags loaded the bases to start the inning when Logan Kirkland led off the frame with a hit by pitch, and Nolan Earley and Brad Hook reached on walks. Nick Zaharion followed with a bases-loaded walk to cut the Bulldog lead to 9-6. Pinch-hitter Colin Bray followed with a fielder’s choice that scored Earley and cut the deficit to two runs. Drew Cofield the reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Hook to cut the Samford lead to 9-8, before Bulldog reliever Arthur Strauss induced a grounder off the bat of Jordan Patterson for a force out at third for the final out of the game.

Zaharion went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Cofield drove in three runs, and Patterson recorded two RBI. Earley and Hook scored two runs and had one hit apiece.

Samford (5-2) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single to left field by Brandon Miller that scored Ervin, who reached on a hit by pitch.

USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on three consecutive singles by Kirkland, Earley and Hook. Zaharion then tied the game with an RBI single to right field to score Kirkland. One batter later, Cofield delivered a two-run double down the third-base line just past Samford third baseman Tyler Filliben to score Earley and Hook and give the Jags a 3-1 lead. Patterson followed with a two-run double to right field that pushed the USA lead to 5-1.

Butler, Miller and Putkonen had two hits, one RBI and one run scored each to lead the Bulldogs at the plate. Allison had one hit, a run scored and two RBI.

“Phillip Byrd did an outstanding job for us and kept us in the game,” USA head coach Mark Calvi said. “When you have a non-quality start and you need a guy to come out of the bullpen and keep it together and that’s what he did. He gave us a chance to win it late, but we didn’t pull it out. I’m proud of the work he did today. We made some errors and some fundamental mistakes in the field that we harp on in practice every day, and it got us today.”

The series will conclude with the rubber match at 1 p.m. Sunday at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchaseed by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).