March 4, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will play host to the Evansville Purple Aces in a three-game series this weekend at Joe Lee Griffin Field.

The teams will open the series Friday evening at 6 p.m. The series will continue with a game Saturday at 1 p.m., and another Sunday, also at 1 p.m. The series will mark the first-ever meeting between Samford and Evansville in baseball.

Samford enters the weekend with a record of 5-3. The Bulldogs won two-of-three games at Kennesaw State last weekend. Evansville is currently 2-6 after falling at Louisville by a score of 13-6 Wednesday evening.

Bo Smith is Samford's leading hitter with a .500 batting average. Mason Meredeth and Stephen Ballard share the team lead in home runs with three each.

Samford is scheduled to start Jonathan Stephens on the mound in Friday's series opener. Stephens is currently 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA. Kyle Putkonen will start for the Bulldogs on Saturday. Putkonen is also 1-0 with an 11.57 ERA. Samford's starter for Sunday's series finale has not been announced.

Evansville is led at the plate by Cody Fick, batting .400 with three home runs and 13 RBI. Greg Wallace has three home runs and 10 RBI so far this season for the Purple Aces.

The Purple Aces are scheduled to start Matt Netherton (0-0, 6.43 ERA) on the mound on Friday, Jake Naumann (0-1, 5.14 ERA) on Saturday and Josh Biggs (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on Sunday.

Fans can follow all three games on the internet via GameTracker at the links below:

GameTracker For Game One
GameTracker For Game Two
GameTracker For Game Three