Sept. 28, 2007

OXFORD, Ala. - The Samford University softball team will begin play in its 2007 fall season Saturday as the Bulldogs compete in the inaugural Tera Ross Memorial Classic hosted by Jacksonville State University at the Oxford Lake Softball Complex.

"This will be a good tournament for our team," said Samford head coach Beanie Ketcham. "Not only is it a good opportunity to play against some quality opponents, but it also allows us to see where we are as a group. The main thing that we're looking for is nine players that are willing to fight and compete out on the field."

Samford is scheduled to play six games in the two-day event that will feature 12 college and junior college teams, all from Alabama and Georgia.

The Bulldogs will open the event at 11 a.m., against Jefferson State on Saturday. There are 38 games scheduled for the tournament, which will be played on four fields at the complex.

The tournament is named in the memory of former Jacksonville State pitcher Tera Ross, a three-time letterwinner that was killed in an automobile accident just before her senior season.

As a junior in 2003, Ross led the team with a 1.17 earned run average, still the third-lowest in school history. She ranks in the top five in Jacksonville State's career record books in four categories: strikeouts, innings, wins and games started.

"This tournament is for a great cause and we are extremely happy to be able to compete in this event," Ketcham said. "There are a lot of good teams in the field and it will be a great opportunity for our players to get out there and show what they can do. We're excited about this season and it should be a good start for us."

Admission to the tournament will be $5 per day for all fans.

2007 Tera Ross Memorial
Game Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 29

FIELD 1
9 a.m. - Jacksonville State vs. Snead State
11 a.m. - Jefferson State vs. Samford
1 p.m. - Snead State vs. Gadsden State
3 p.m. - Middle Georgia vs. Bevill State
5 p.m. - Wallace-Hanceville vs. Jacksonville State
7 p.m. - Alabama Southern vs. Snead State

FIELD 2
9 a.m. - Shorter vs. Wallace-Hanceville
11 a.m. - Middle Georgia vs. Alabama Southern
1 p.m. - West Georgia vs. Mercer
3 p.m. - Mercer vs. Wallace-Hanceville
5 p.m. - Middle Georgia vs. Shorter

FIELD 3
9 a.m. - Gadsden State vs. West Georgia
11 a.m. - Mercer vs. Shorter
1 p.m. - Enterprise-Ozark vs. Jefferson State
3 p.m. - Shorter vs. Gadsden
5 p.m. - Samford vs. Enterprise-Ozark
7 p.m. - Middle Georgia vs. Jefferson State

FIELD 4
9 a.m. - Enterprise-Ozark vs. Bevill State
1 p.m. - Samford vs. Alabama Southern
5 p.m. - Bevill State vs. Alabama Southern
7 p.m. - Jacksonville State vs. West Georgia

Sunday, Sept. 30

FIELD 1
9 a.m. - Gadsden State vs. Enterprise-Ozark
11 a.m. - Jacksonville State vs. Middle Georgia
1 p.m. - Mercer vs. Jacksonville State
3 p.m. - Seed #1 vs. Seed #2
5 p.m. - Seed #9 vs. Seed #10

FIELD 2
9 a.m. - West Georgia vs. Bevill State
11 a.m. - Samford vs. Mercer
1 p.m. - Jefferson State vs. Gadsden State
3 p.m. - Seed #3 vs. Seed #4
5 p.m. - Seed #11 vs. Seed #12

FIELD 3
9 a.m. - Jefferson State vs. Snead State
11 a.m. - Enterprise-Ozark vs. West Georgia
1 p.m. - Wallace-Hanceville vs. Samford
3 p.m. - Seed #5 vs. Seed #6

FIELD 4
9 a.m. - Alabama Southern vs. Wallace-Hanceville
11 a.m. - Snead State vs. Bevill State
3 p.m. - Seed #7 vs. Seed #8