After watching Eastern put up an eight spot in game two a day earlier, the Samford Bulldogs equaled the feat with an eight-run outburst of their own to salvage the finale of the three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with a 12-5 victory Sunday.

Eastern ace Jared Marshall recorded just two outs in his fourth game back from offseason surgery as the Bulldogs blasted the senior for eight runs in the first inning. In the fateful frame, Samford (6-25, 1-11 OVC) batted around, sending 13 batters to the plate. Second baseman Michael Collins had two hits and drove in two runs in the inning. Third baseman Parker Gargis singled past the right side of the infield to score a pair of runs. Shortstop Joe Denson, right fielder Matt Alling, designated hitter Sterling Whitworth and left fielder Justin Worthington all drove in runs off Marshall (0-1), who was replaced by Alex Chapple after Denson’s RBI double.

Samford added another run in the bottom of the second when Worthington singled to right field to score catcher Eric Hollis. The damage could have been worse but the Bulldogs left the bases loaded after Denson flied to center to end the inning.

Eastern dented the scoreboard with a pair of two-out runs in the third to cut the lead to seven. After catcher Jason Cobb grounded out to third and outfielder David Chacon popped out to third, Mark Chagnon started the modest rally with a bunt single. Second baseman Chris Uhle continued the two-out success with a base hit to left field and than shortstop Kyle Haines drove his teammates home with an RBI double down the right field line.

Eastern would put two more in the sixth on RBI singles from Paul Dean and Joe Hernandez. The Panthers were able to push anymore runs across the plate when Chacon grounded out to second, stranding Dean and Hernandez on the base path.

Samford increased its lead to 11-4 in the bottom half of the inning when Andy Kuntz walked Collins with the bases loaded. Eastern (13-20, 8-4) and Samford both added single tallies in the eighth to finish the scoring with Samford ahead 12-5.

With Eastern Kentucky 8-3 in the OVC, Panthers head coach Jimmy Schmitz realized his team lost an opportunity to be alone in second place in the conference. Eastern’s skipper, however, was still pleased with his team’s performance and stressed the importance of the Panthers upcoming opponents.

“We stayed in good contention taking two-of-three,” Schmitz said. “The next three weekends, though, are a critical stretch of our season with Southeast Missouri State, Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky all ahead.”

It will be the calm before the storm for the Panthers as they first travel to Chicago on Tuesday to take on Illinois-Chicago and host Saint Louis on Wednesday at Coaches Stadium.