Sept. 20, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team opened its 2006 fall practice season Tuesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

"I was really pleased with our first day," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "Our returners were ready to get started and our new guys came out there and were excited to be on the field as a Samford Bulldog for the first time."

Samford returns six of eight position starters and all three of its conference starters on the mound from a team that won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2006. Dunn said the expectations have been raised for the team heading into his third season as head coach.

"I think our expectations should be high this year," Dunn said. "We are coming off a good year with a lot of the same guys returning. While we didn't lose a lot in terms of statistics, we did lose some leadership and some guidance from some of the older guys from last year. That will be the biggest void we have to fill this year."

During fall practice, Samford will practice Tuesday through Sunday each week, with practice concluding on Saturday, Oct. 21. On Tuesdays and Sundays, the team will practice at 6:30 p.m. The Wednesday, Thursday and Friday practices will be at 3:00 p.m., and the Saturday practices will be at 10:00 a.m.

The fall season will conclude with a scrimmage the morning of Oct. 21, prior to Samford's Homecoming football game. Between the scrimmage and the football game, there will be a lunch and tailgate for alumni and family.