BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Little Rock held a two-run lead and needed just six outs to secure a win in Friday's series opener at Samford, but the hosts rallied late, topping the Trojans in walk-off fashion for a 5-4 victory at J.L. Griffin Field.
The Trojans (8-9) watched as the Bulldogs (7-9) scratched across a run in the eighth to pull within one, then delivered a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth to steal the victory. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 1 p.m., with both games streaming live on ESPN+.
"I was proud of how hard our team fought and was engaged and played the game the right way, even though it didn't come out our way," head coach
Chris Curry said. "[Brannon] Westmoreland was brilliant again on the mound and worked out of some jams. I look forward to getting back out there and splitting the series tomorrow."
Westmoreland threw seven strong innings as the starter, and
Gage Haley recorded four straight outs after entering in the eighth, but Samford erased the deficit with its late rally.
Both starters dominated the early portion of the contest, with
Jack Bilski recording the only hit of the game through the first three innings. Westmoreland retired the first 10 batters he faced before Samford pushed across the game's first run in the fourth.
Little Rock responded in the fifth with a three-run surge. Bilski delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game,
Jerdy Lopez drove in another run on a fielder's choice, and
Kade Smith singled through the right side to bring home
Nolan Freund for a 3-1 lead.
Samford plated another run in the sixth before Little Rock added its fourth run on a single by
Michael O'Brien that led to a throwing error, allowing
Cade Martin to score all the way from first.
Little Rock went down in order in the ninth, setting the stage for the Bulldogs' game-clinching swing.
