March 8, 2012

Game Notes
UNC Greensboro Live Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will open Southern Conference play with a three-game series at UNC Greensboro this weekend. The teams will play Friday at 5 p.m. (CT), Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT) and Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT).

The series will feature two of the top home-run hitting teams in the country. UNC Greensboro ranks fifth in the nation with 19 home runs, while Samford is tied for sixth nationally with 16 homers.

The Bulldogs enter the game with a record of 9-4. Samford is coming off a 5-2 win over in-state rival Jacksonville State on Wednesday. Samford is led offensively by Saxon Butler, batting .440 (22-of-50) with three doubles and 14 RBI. Brandon Miller leads the team in home runs with seven and in RBI with 20.

Samford is scheduled to start Kyle Putkonen on the mound in Friday's series-opener. Putkonen is currently 0-2 on the season and he enters the game with an ERA of 5.06.

Charles Basford is scheduled to be Samford's starting pitcher on Saturday. Basford is 2-0 so far with a 2.75 ERA.

In Sunday's series finale, Josh Martin is scheduled to start the game on the mound for Samford. Martin is 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA entering this weekend's series.

The Spartans are currently 9-3. UNC Greensboro is coming off a 6-5 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. UNCG is led by Kris Richards, batting .405 with three home runs and 12 RBI. Trevor Edwards leads the team and shares the SoCon lead in home runs with SU's Miller with seven.

UNC Greensboro is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Tyler Hollstegge on the mound in Friday's series-opener. Hollstegge enters the series with a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 2.51.

Left-hander Corey Taylor will be the Spartans' starting pitcher on Saturday. Taylor is currently 2-0 with an impressive 0.63 ERA.

In Sunday's series finale, right-hander Max Povse will start the game on the mound for UNC Greensboro. Povse is currently 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA.

Samford and UNC Greensboro have met nine previous times, with Samford holding a 7-2 advantage in the series. Last season, UNCG won two-of-three games from the Bulldogs at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford swept the series in both of the team's first two seasons in the SoCon.

All three games this weekend can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. Fans can also follow the games online via Live Stats at the following link: UNC Greensboro Live Stats