April 9, 2012

Game Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will step out of Southern Conference action to play at Auburn Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park.

The Bulldogs enter the week with a record of 20-12 overall and 9-6 in the SoCon. Samford won two-of-three games from The Citadel over the weekend.

Samford is led offensively by first baseman Saxon Butler, batting .398 with six home runs and 29 RBI. Center fielder Phillip Ervin is batting .344 with six home runs and 31 RBI. Right fielder Brandon Miller leads the team and the SoCon in home runs with 12 and in RBI with 38.

Samford is scheduled to start junior left-handed pitcher Lex Rutledge on the mound Tuesday evening. Rutledge enters the game with a record of 0-2 and an ERA of 7.41. He also has one save so far this season.

The Tigers are currently 17-14 overall and 6-6 in Southeastern Conference play. Auburn was swept by Alabama over the weekend.

Auburn is led at the plate by Ryan Tella, batting .408 with two home runs and 18 RBI. Zach Alvord leads the team in home runs with three, and is tied with Garrett Cooper for the team lead in RBI with 19 each.

Samford and Auburn have met 71 previous times, with Auburn holding a 54-17 advantage in the series, though Samford has won the last three meetings.

Last season, Samford won both meetings with the Tigers, winning, 8-0 in Auburn and by a score of 9-8, in Birmingham. Earlier this season, Samford defeated Auburn, 8-5, at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Under head coach Casey Dunn, Samford has a record of 8-8 against Auburn.

Tuesday night's game can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/wvsu. Fans can also follow the game online via GameTracker at www.samfordsports.com.