Oct. 23, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team is now three weeks into its fall practice season.

"We were expecting to be a much quicker and more athletic team coming into the Fall and the guys have lived up to that," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "A lot of power, production and experience left our program last season but we are excited about the talent that has arrived on campus. There are still a few weeks to go, but we are pleased with what we have accomplished so far."

Through the first three weeks, Michael Marseco leads the team in batting with a .553 average. Newcomers Josh Rutledge (.414), Alex Godshall (.425) and Stephen Ballard (.394) are also hitting well for the Bulldogs.

Returning players Bear Burnett and Wayne Miller are hitting the ball extremely well. Burnett is batting .378 and Miller has a .361 average. A total of 9 players have batting averages of over 300 to this point of the fall.

Sophomore Stewart Young leads the team in doubles with four, and Marseco leads the team in triples with five. The 2008 team is expected to feature much more team speed, and Miller leads the team in stolen bases with nine, Godshall has seven and Marseco has stolen six bases.

On the mound, several newcomers have performed well for the team. Transfers Michael Jarry and Jonathan Stephens are throwing well, and freshmen Grant Sides, Andrew Jones and Taylor Hammond have had good falls as well. Josh Vanfleteren is coming of a medical redshirt year and has really thrown the ball well. Returning pitchers Trent Hill and Kyle Nichols have had productive falls as well.