Samford University Athletics

Baseball Travels To ASU, Friday Game Time Changed

April 14, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will travel to Boone, N.C., for a three-game Southern Conference series with Appalachian State this weekend. The teams will play single games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Due to predicted inclement weather in the Boone, N.C., area, Friday's game has been moved from its original start time of 5 p.m. (CT), and will now be played at 2 p.m. (CT). Saturday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT), but could be moved depending on the weather. Sunday's game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. (CT) start.

The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a record of 21-13 overall and 9-6 in Southern Conference play. Samford dropped two-of-three games at Western Carolina over the weekend. The Bulldogs fell in games one and two, 4-3 in 12 innings and 3-2, before winning the final game, 11-6.

Samford is led at the plate by Phillip Ervin, batting .407 (46-of-113) with nine doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI. Michael Johnson is batting .351 (46-of-131) with five doubles and 15 RBI. Brandon Miller leads the team in home runs with 12, while Saxon Butler is the team leader in RBI with 36 so far this season.

Samford is scheduled to start Lex Rutledge (5-2, 3.13 ERA) on the mound in Friday's series opener. Charles Basford (3-3, 2.97 ERA) will start for the Bulldogs on Saturday, and Samford has not named a starter for Sunday's series finale.

The Mountaineers currently have a record of 20-15 overall and 6-9 in Southern Conference play. ASU won both of its midweek games this week, defeating Tennessee (6-5) and Gardner-Webb (12-3).

ASU is led at the plate by Jack Myers, batting .374 (46-of-123) with 15 RBI. Tyler Zupcic is batting .331 (40-of-121) with three home runs and 18 RBI. Daniel Kassouf leads the team in home runs with six. Trey Holmes it ASU's team leader in RBI with 32.

Appalachian State will start Ryan Arrowood (4-1, 2.55 ERA) on the mound on Friday. Nathan Hyatt (4-4, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Mountaineers on Saturday, while Seth Grant (3-4, 5.59 ERA) will be Sunday's starter for ASU.

Samford and Appalachian State have met five previous times, with the Mountaineers winning all five contests. Last season, the teams only played twice due to inclement weather. ASU won the two games by scores of 17-7 and 7-3.