Jan. 24, 2002

MACON, Ga. - Despite finishing third in the 2001 Atlantic Sun Tournament, the Samford Bulldog softball team was picked seventh by conference coaches heading into the 2002 season. The defending Atlantic Sun tournament champions, Florida Atlantic are picked to repeat in the 2002 edition of the preseason coach's poll. The Lady Owls garnered eight first place votes and 116 points to win the regular season title

FAU returns All-American pitcher and two-time A-Sun Player of the Year, Nicole Myers along with infielder Michelle Shirah and outfielder Ninya Ybarra. The Lady Owls have won or shared four of the last five regular season Atlantic Sun softball titles. Atlantic Sun tournament runner-up Troy State garnered 93 points and is picked to finish second. The Lady Trojans will be hosting this season's conference championship and are led by pitcher Kim Unkenholz and infielder Mindy Porep. Picked in the third spot is Georgia State, under the direction of new, but returning head coach Bob Heck. In the fourth spot is Jacksonville State and fifth is Stetson. JSU and Stetson each won a share of the 2001 regular season title. The Atlantic Sun's newest program UCF, under the direction of Renee Gillispie, who is noted for building a strong program, is picked to finish sixth in their inaugural season. Samford is picked seventh, Campbell-eighth, Mercer-ninth and the Atlantic Sun's newest member, Belmont is picked 10th.

Samford returns seven starters off last year's team that finished the regular season on a five-game winning streak before upsetting Jacksonville State and Georgia State in the Atlantic Sun Tournament.

The Bulldogs have an experienced team heading into the 2002 season with four seniors and five juniors on the 15 player squad. Seniors Janet Middleton and Mindy Shunnarah are three year starters on the left side of the infield. Middleton is the career doubles leader in Samford history. She had 14 doubles, three home runs, and 18 RBI last season. Shunnarah was the MVP at the Samford Invitational. She had four home runs and six doubles and was second on the team with ten stolen bases as the lead off hitter a year ago.

Junior Michelle Wright set a school-record by hitting 18 doubles last season. She also led the team in runs batted in with 22.The Bulldogs had two all-freshman team member returning for their sophomore seasons along with Angela Bednark who garnered 2nd-Team All-TAAC honors as a freshman. Erin Landsburg had a 1.99 ERA as a freshman. She and transfer Amber Fuller will lead the Bulldog pitching staff. Outfielder Abi Casillo batted .287 with eight doubles, three triples, and four home runs.

Samford will open the 2002 campaign on Feb. 8, at the Bama Bash hosted by the University of Alabama. The Bulldogs will open up against Evansville University at 1:30 p.m.