May 4, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will travel to Atlanta, Ga., to take on the Georgia State Panthers in the Bulldogs' final non-conference game of the regular season Tuesday evening.

The Bulldogs enter the week with a record of 17-31 overall and 9-18 in Southern Conference play. Samford dropped two-of-three games at The Citadel over the weekend. Samford won game one, 5-4, before dropping games two and three by scores of 5-1 and 9-5.

Samford is led at the plate by Stephen Ballard, batting .351 with two home runs and 20 RBI. Bo Smith is batting .350 with six home runs and 27 RBI. David Schulze is also batting .350 with nine home runs and 54 RBI. Schulze's RBI total leads the team, and he is tied for the team lead in home runs with Mason Meredeth.

Samford is scheduled to start freshman right-handed pitcher Kyle Putkonen on the mound Tuesday night. Putkonen has a record of 4-2 and an ERA of 8.50. Putkonen had a strong outing last Wednesday, pitching 8.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits to earn the win over Alabama A&M.

The Panthers enter the week with a record of 29-18 overall and 11-7 in Colonial Athletic Association play. GSU swept Virginia Commonwealth in a conference series over the weekend. The Panthers defeated VCU by scores of 8-4, 11-6 and 5-4.

GSU has been led offensively by Marc Mimeault, batting .385 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI. Matt Van Horn is batting .356 with six home runs and 28 RBI.

The Panthers will start right-handed pitcher Adam Knight on the mound Tuesday evening. Knight has a record of 1-4 with a 6.90 ERA so far this season.

Samford and Georgia State are meeting for the 64th time in baseball, with Samford holding a 34-29 advantage in the series. Earlier this season, Samford defeated Georgia State, 12-2 at Joe Lee Griffin Field on April 14. Under head coach Casey Dunn, Samford is 3-3 against Georgia State.

Tuesday night's game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. (CT) start from Atlanta. Fans can follow the game via live stats at www.georgiastatesports.com.