BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Danny Rodriguez singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to give Samford a 4-3 victory over The Citadel on Sunday, preventing the Bulldogs from completing a Southern Conference sweep.

The Citadel emerged from the weekend with a record of 20-26 and 5-13 in the SoCon while Samford is 25-21 and 11-7 in the league. The Bulldogs won their first SoCon series of the season and their first in three visits to Birmingham since Samford joined the league in 2009.

Alex Lee led off the decisive frame with a double off Skylar Hunter, moved to third on a sacrifice and came across with the winning run when Rodriguez rolled a single into right field for his third hit of the game.

Both teams had a chance to win it in the ninth. Jacob Watcher doubled with two outs against Andres Gracia, and Samford left runners on first and third in its half of the inning. Gracia earned the win in his first decision of the year, and Hunter was tagged with the loss.

Steven Hansen led The Citadel with three hits and fell a home run shy of the cycle. The Bulldog center fielder had six hits in the final two games of the series including three singles, a double, triple and round tripper.

Austin Mapes added a pair of hits including a leadoff home run to stake The Citadel to a quick 1-0 lead, the sophomore left fielder's fifth of the season and second in as many games. Hansen tripled with one out in the second and scored on a ground out by William Kinney to make it a two-run advantage.

After being held hitless through the first 2 2/3 innings by Thomas Byelick, Samford struck in the third on a solo homer by Hunter Swilling and then took the lead in the fourth. With runners at second and third and one out, Richard Greene tied it with a grounder to short, and Frankie Navarrete put the homestanding Bulldogs ahead with an RBI single.

Hansen continued his hot hitting with a double in the sixth but was stranded at second. The Citadel was then able to tie it in the seventh, aided by a pair of Samford errors. Ryan Kilgallen reached on a miscue, and pinch runner Shy Phillips eventually scored when Samford pitcher Mark Donham committed a throwing error on a Mapes stolen base.

Austin Mason, the third of five Citadel pitchers, kept it a 3-3 game in the bottom of the seventh when he struck out Samford's No. 3 and 4 hitters – Heath Quinn and Austin Edens – with a runner at third and one out. Mason struck out three in two shutout innings of relief.

The Citadel does not have a midweek game and is back in action when it hosts East Tennessee State beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will recognize returning members of their 1990 College World Series team, including ETSU head coach Tony Skole, on Saturday and will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday.