BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — C.K. Irby threw 8.1 strong innings and allowed five hits as Samford defeated Georgia Southern 6-2 at Joe Lee Griffin Field on Friday night.
    Irby (3-2) held Georgia Southern (10-7, 3-1) in check for most of the game and survived a ninth-inning rally attempt to earn the win for Samford (12-7, 3-2).
    Robbie Dodds tripled with one out in the ninth and later scored a run on a double from pinch hitter Garren Palmer. Stryker Brown followed with a single, but Arthur Strauss got a double play to end the ball game.
    Samford took an early lead after scoring three runs in the third inning off of five hits and a walk. Christiaan Durdaller broke open the inning with a two-RBI single. Sam Howard was able to strand the bases loaded after striking out Richard Greene and coaxing a fly out from Fankie Navarrete.
    Howard (3-2) threw a solid game but was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs – three earned – on nine hits. The sophomore lefthander struck out six batters and walked three over 4.2 innings.
    The Bulldogs tallied 14 hits, left 13 base runners stranded and the bases loaded three times. Tommy Corbin recorded four hits and drove in a pair of runs. Phillip Ervin recorded a pair of hits and scored a run, while Caleb Bryson tallied two hits and a RBI. Chase Griffin led the Eagles with two hits and drove in a run.
    Samford led 4-0 before Georgia Southern struck for their first run in the sixth inning. Ben Morgan tripled over the head of a diving Ervin to lead off the inning. Griffin plated the run a batter later with a single into left center.
    The Bulldogs added two more runs in the seventh inning. Caleb Bryson led off the frame with a solo home run over the batter's eye in center field. Evan Challenger followed with two quick outs before Frankie Navarrete singled. Zeth Stone moved the runner into scoring position with a bunt single before Corbin drove in the second run on a base hit.
    The series continues tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. EDT. The Eagles will send freshman lefthander Jason Richman to the mound to face Eric Wright. Coverage on the Georgia Southern Radio Network starts 30 minutes prior to first pitch.