May 6, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team will attempt to lock up the second seed in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament this weekend as the Bulldogs host the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in a pivotal three-game series at Bulldog Field.

The teams will play a series-opening doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by a "Senior Day" matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m. This weekend's competition marks the final home series of the 2005 campaign and Samford's two seniors, Trisha Holman and Kelly Smith, will be honored prior to Sunday's game.

Samford (25-22, 16-7 OVC) heads into Saturday's doubleheader with a two-game lead over Tennessee Tech for the second-place position in the OVC standings. TTU, which has won seven-consecutive contests, owns a 13-8 conference record this season and will host ninth-place Morehead State in a three-game series this weekend.

With two wins against Eastern Kentucky (20-27, 10-13 OVC), Samford would clinch the second seed in the tournament and would receive an ever-critical first-round bye. If the Bulldogs fail to win two games this weekend, they would need Tennessee Tech to drop at least one contest against Morehead State to secure the No. 2 seed.

Samford has won three of its previous four games at home and owns a solid 7-3 record against conference opponents in Birmingham, Ala.

The Bulldogs are coming off of a series victory over Tennessee-Martin earlier this week as they posted a pair of one-run wins, 1-0 and 3-2. The Skyhawks took the middle game of the series by a score of 4-0.

Eastern Kentucky heads into Saturday's doubleheader in a two-way tie for the critical sixth position in the OVC standings.

Only the top-six teams in the conference qualify for next week's OVC Tournament and the Colonels currently stand tied with Southeast Missouri at 10-13 in the league with only three games remaining. Southeast Missouri hosts eighth-place Austin Peay this weekend.

The Colonels have lost four of their last five games of the season and are coming off of a series loss at home against Eastern Illinois.

Eastern Kentucky dropped the first two games of the three-game set, 8-6 and 10-1, but then put together a 9-2 victory in the final contest. The Colonels are batting .284 as a team this season, second in the OVC.

EKU holds a significant 5-1 advantage in its all-time series against the Bulldogs.

The foes first squared off during the 1994 season and split a non-conference doubleheader. Samford won the first game of the rivalry, 4-1, but has dropped the previous five games. Last season, EKU compiled a 4-0 record against Samford by sweeping the annual three-game set and earning a 4-0 win in the OVC Tournament.

Samford was predicted to finish the 2005 season as the fifth-place team in the OVC's preseason standings according to a vote taken by the conference's 10 head coaches on Jan. 27.

Eastern Kentucky, which took home both the OVC regular-season and tournament titles last year, was picked to finish first, while Jacksonville State was tabbed as the second-place team and Tennessee-Martin was predicted to finish third.

The Samford University softball team will conclude its six-game homestand this weekend as the Bulldogs host Eastern Kentucky in a three-game set at Bulldog Field The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by single game on Sunday.

Prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. start, the Samford University softball program will honor its two seniors, Holman and Smith, for their hard work and dedication over the years.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the presentation.