FINAL STATS 

BIRMINGHAM – Brandon Miller had three hits and drove in two runs to lead Samford to a 5-2 win over Jacksonville State at Joe Lee Griffin Field on Wednesday.
 
Tyler Vanderheiden (1-0) had a pair of strikeouts in just one inning to earn his first win of the season for the Bulldogs, while C.K. Irby pitched a hitless ninth to earn his second save. JSU's Travis Stout (0-1) gave up just one run in three innings, but got stuck with the loss for the Gamecocks.
 
Samford took the early lead after Irby and Austin Allison each drove in a run with a RBI single as the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead.
 
Jax State battled back to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning after Sam Eberle led off the inning with a solo home run and then Ben Waldrip followed with a solo home run to center field as the Gamecocks tied the game at 2-2.
 
Samford took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after Miller had a RBI double to left center to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
 
The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the eighth inning after Matt Frederick and Miller each had RBI singles with two outs for the final margin.
 
Eberle finished with a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks at the plate, while Waldrip added two walks to go along with his home run.
 
Jacksonville State returns to action with a three-game series at Southern Illinois. Friday's game is set for 2 p.m. and the game can be heard on the JSU Sports Network.