April 10, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team will play seven games in the next five days as the Bulldogs begin their key midseason stretch Wednesday with a critical Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader on the road against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 5 p.m.

Both games will be carried locally on the radio at 91.1 FM and via the internet at www.al.com/wvsu. Live stats will also be provided on the front page of Samford's official athletics web site at www.SamfordSports.com.

Samford (21-15, 7-6 OVC) has been victorious in five of its previous six games and currently sits in fourth place in the OVC standings.

Last week, the Bulldogs earned a 3-0 victory against Mississippi State on Wednesday and then took two out of three games from conference-foe Tennessee-Martin over the weekend. With Samford's second win in the three-game series, the Bulldogs reached a prestigious plateau as they earned their 400th victory in school history.

In its 21st season of existence, the Samford softball program currently owns a 400-620-1 all-time record.

Jacksonville State (21-14, 8-5 OVC) will enter Wednesday's twin-bill as the third-place team in the conference standings. The Gamecocks have won their previous three OVC matchups and currently lead Samford by a half game for the third spot in the league.

On Tuesday night, Jacksonville State will host Nicholls State for a non-conference doubleheader held at University Field in Jacksonville. Samford is scheduled to square off against Nicholls State on Thursday in a home doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

In Wednesday's doubleheader, the Bulldogs will look to avenge an earlier loss to Jacksonville State this season.

Samford hosted the Gamecocks for a single midweek game on March 27 and dropped a 7-1 decision to its in-state rival. Jacksonville State currently owns a 25-17 advantage in the all-time series and has been victorious in the last three games between the teams.

Sophomore Stephanie Royall was named the OVC's Pitcher of the Week Monday as the Bulldogs' hurler finished the week with a 3-0 record and a miniscule 0.32 earned run average.

A native of Mill Valley, Calif., Royall picked up all three of Samford's wins last week and turned in a pair of complete-game victories. The highlight of her week came in a 3-0 shutout win against Mississippi State on Wednesday in which she finished with a game-high 10 strikeouts.

Jacksonville State can also boast the services of an OVC Player of the Week.

The Gamecocks' junior catcher Alana Hicks has been named the conference's Player of the Week for her efforts in leading the Gamecocks to a 4-1 record and an OVC sweep of Southeast Missouri.

Hicks, a native of Murfreesboro Tenn., belted three home runs and drove in 12 of the Gamecocks' 28 RBIs last week. She drove in eight runs in the Southeastern Missouri series, thanks to a three-run home run in the second game and a grand slam in Saturday's series finale.

Samford's senior shortstop Liz Pearse has hit four home runs in her last six games, while sophomore second baseman Jessica Owens is a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts this season.

Following Samford's key OVC doubleheader at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, the Bulldogs will host the Nicholls State Colonels at 4 p.m., Thursday.