FULL GAME NOTES (PDF)

'DOGS HEAD TO MEMPHIS FOR BLUES CITY CLASSIC
Samford (3-5) will be one of 12 teams participating in this weekend's Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn.  The Bulldogs will play four games starting on Saturday, Feb. 23 against Wright State (1 p.m. CT) and Southeast Missouri (4 p.m.).  On Sunday, Feb. 24, Samford will play Wichita State (9 a.m.) and Belmont (2:30 p.m.).

OPPONENT SCOUTING REPORT
Wright State (0-5) - The Raiders have yet to earn a win so far this season, starting off 0-5 at last weekend's Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles.  Three of those losses came to ranked opponents however as they faced #19 UCLA twice and #17 Texas A&M.  Three players earned three hits over the weekend including sophomore infielder Angie Clark, who collected three RBI off two singles and a double while adding a stolen base as well.  The pitching staff struggled against tough opponents in the opening weekend as they own a 5.31 team ERA with junior Krystian DeWitt seeing the most time, throwing 15.2 innings with seven earned runs and eight strikeouts.

SEMO (2-3) - The Redhawks started the season 2-1 before falling in back-to-back games to close out the Mardi Gras Classic two weeks ago.  After a weekend off, they enter the Blues City Classic looking to improve on their .204 team batting average.  Senior Kaitlin Zink is the early offensive leader, batting .353 (6-17) with a double and three runs scored.  In the circle, senior Taylor Cowan (1-2) has thrown 17.0 innings with a 1.65 ERA and nine strikeouts.  Freshman pitcher Hannah Clemons has started three of their five games, though she has only thrown 9.2 innings with a 3.62 ERA.

Wichita State (3-6) - The Shockers are 3-6 on the season, recently snapping a five-game losing skid with back-to-back wins closing out the FGCU Tournament last weekend.  Starting all nine games so far, junior Ali Vandever is hitting .333 (9-27) with three doubles and three RBI, while senior Hayley Temple has also earned nine hits with three doubles, driving in six runs.  Junior lefty Sloan Anderson (2-2) has a 1.91 ERA over 25.2 innings, while senior Katie Armagost has seen the most time in the circle with 29.1 innings and a 3.34 ERA.

Belmont (5-3) - The Bruins have collected five wins so far this season, including two extra-inning contests against Valparaiso and UNCG and a 10-0 run-rule victory over Alabama State.  Despite hitting only .205 as a team, a pair of .300 hitters lead their everyday starters.  Sophomore Kat Hollingsworth has a .357 average off 10 hits with six doubles, a home run and seven RBI while junior Mia Vierra is hitting .348 with eight hits, two doubles, a triple and six RBI.  The Bruins have split their pitching duties between five players already this year, with four of them making at least one start.  Freshman Carolyn Snodgress is the leader of their rotation, as she has yet to allow an earned run over 19.2 innings of work this season.


ALL-TIME VERSUS BLUES CITy CLASSIC OPPONENTS
Samford is a combined 21-10 all-time against this weekend's four opponents.  Samford has the most past experience with Southeast Missouri, holding a 11-6 all-time record against their former OVC rival.  Prior to Samford's stint in the OVC, the Bulldogs were in the Atlantic Sun Conference, as they built an 8-3 all-time record against former-ASun member Belmont.  Samford has faced Wichita State twice, splitting two games in a 1992 double header, while the Bulldogs won their only  meeting with Wright State, a 6-3 victory in 1994.

UNTIMELY ERRORS DOOM 'DOGS IN 3-2 LOSS AT KENNESAW STATE
Samford suffered its third one-run loss of the season Wednesday night at Kennesaw State despite a sixth-inning rally and another stellar pitching performance.  Mollie Hanson (2-4) takes the loss despite throwing the full 6.0 innings and only allowing one earned run with a career-best 12 strikeouts.  Trailing 2-0 with two outs in the top of the sixth, Kayla Shaffer came up with a huge-at bat, driving in two runs with a hard-hit single to tie the game.  Samford could not take the lead in the half-inning however and, in the bottom half of the inning, a fielding error with one away allowed the potential go-ahead run to get on base.  She eventually scored off a single down the first-base line and the Bulldogs were shut down in order in the top of the seventh as the Olws held on to earn the slim 3-2 victory.

WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK
Memphis, Tenn.
Saturday, Feb. 23 - Sunday, Feb. 24
Mostly Sunny
High 60, Low 40
6-8 MPH Winds

UP NEXT
Samford travels southwest to Tuscaloosa to face the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide (11-0) on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. CT.