GAME NOTES: COASTAL CAROLINA INVITATIONAL (03.01-02.14)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team is set to travel to the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Conway, S.C., and will compete against a bevy of opponents such as: Marshall University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Saint Peter's University and the host institution Coastal Carolina University.

QUICK HITTERS
Samford goes into this weekend with an overall 13-4 record and a 1-1 overall record against its first opponent Marshall University. The two schools last previously met on Feb. 09, 2013 where the Bulldogs notched a 2-1 victory in its second game of the year.

SU takes on two opponents for the first time ever in the University of Maryland - Eastern Shore Hawks and the Saint Peter's Peacocks. UMES enters the Coastal Carolina Invitational with an record of 2-7 while Saint Peter's will be competing for the first time of the 2014 season.

The Bulldogs look to pick up its first ever victory over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers this weekend as the team from Conway, S.C. currently holds an overall 4-0 record over Samford. The last time these two teams squared off was in Feb. 24, 2001 when the Bulldogs fell 5-0 to CCU.

In head coach Mandy Burford's third year, the Bulldogs are off to its best start in the program's 27-year history.

ON DECK
Samford returns home for a solo contest against the University of Alabama on Tuesday, March 04, at 6 p.m. You can catch the game live via video stream with play-by-play from James Hardy at SamfordSports.com

ADAMS EARNS SoCon POW AWARD
Sophomore Abby Adams opened the season in the best possible way for the Bulldogs. The Hobart, Ind. native leads the team with 14 RBIs and six home runs.
 
Adams picked up the Bulldogs third ever SoCon Player of the Week award after her performance this past week going 9 for 19 (.474) with five RBIs, eight runs scored, three walks and two stolen bases.
 
Adams is tied for eighth in the school's history with 12 career home runs.

LEADING THE SoCon
Samford is having a record setting season combined with the teams best start in the program's 27 year history.
 
The Bulldogs have surpassed its 2013 mark of 20 home runs and now have 22 which ranks first in the Southern Conference. SU also ranks first in the SoCon in hits (136), runs (97), doubles (18) and stolen bases (24).

DICKEY'S COMEBACK
Junior Madison Dickey wanted to put the 2013 season behind her after a devastating season-ending knee injury  on Feb. 23 against SEMO.  The Hoover, Ala. native played in all 56 games her freshman season and started in the first 10 of her sophomore year before going down.
 
On Feb. 19, in a doubleheader against Austin Peay, Dickey went 3-for-4 at the plate smashing two doubles with 3 RBIs, two runs scored.
 
Since then Dickey is batting 12 for 37 (.324) with nine runs scored, five RBIs and leads the team with four doubles.

SWEENEY EMERGES AS OFFENSIVE THREAT
Another freshman has burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs as Abby Sweeney has posted incredible numbers over the past week.
 
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sweeney has crushed at the plate going 6 for 15 (.400) with four RBIs, six runs scored with a double and two home runs. She currently is slugging .837 with a .500 OBP.

HANSON IS HEATING UP
Junior Mollie Hanson picked up where she left off last season notching a 6-3 record so far this season  The Dothan, Ala. native has pitched a total of 46.2 innings with 52 strikeouts and only 11 walks through four starts.  Hanson currently holds a 2.55 ERA.
 
THE 9 HOLE
Freshman second baseman Abbie Miranda has proven her worth in the bottom of the batting order for head coach Mandy Burford.  The Vestavia Hills, Ala. native has provided production at the plate in some way every game this season. Miranda 10 of 38 (.263) has scored 12 runs,  recorded 10 RBIs,  four home runs and two stolen bases to start the season.
 
Miranda's best outing came on Feb. 07, against Mercer where she went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run in a 9-8 victory over the Bears.
 
 GREY MATTERs
Freshman Grey Adams was introduced to the collegiate softball realm on Feb. 08,  against Florida A&M where she tossed a complete-game. The Fairhope, Ala. native only gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out four and only two walks to pick up her first career victory.
 
Adams through three starts holds a 4-0 record with 21 strike outs and 12 walks through 26.1 innings pitched.
 
SUPER SOPHOMORES
A trio of sophomores have picked up where they left off in their freshman campaigns. Caitlin Bice, Callie Brister and Hannah Taylor all have contributed to the Bulldogs in a significant way again this season.
 
Bice is currently 12 for 42 (.286) at the plate with two doubles,  a triple, a pair of home runs, three walks,  six RBIs and nine runs scored.
 
Taylor is 12 for 35 (.343) with three home runs, 12 RBIs, seven runs scored and has an OBP of .395 and is slugging .629.
 
Brister is 12 of 52 (.231) with 13 RBIs, eight runs scored, six walks,  two doubles and three home runs. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. natives best game so far came on Feb. 14, against Belmont University where she went 2-for-4 with two home runs and tied her career high of four RBIs.
 
SWEENEY EMERGES AS OFFENSIVE THREAT
Another freshman has burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs as Abby Sweeney has posted incredible numbers over the past week.
 
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sweeney has crushed at the plate going 6 for 15 (.400) with four RBIs, six runs scored with a double and two home runs. She currently is slugging .837 with a .500 OBP.
 
BULLDOGS TABBED TO FINISH 6TH in SoCon
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Georgia Southern Eagles have been voted the preseason favorite to win the 2014 Southern Conference softball championships in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. UNCG sophomore Lindsay Thomas was named the preseason Player of the Year while Georgia Southern senior Sarah Purvis was named the preseason Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season.
 
2014 SoCon Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1. Georgia Southern (7)	49
2. UNCG	40
3. Appalachian State (1)	35
4. Chattanooga	31
5. Furman	24
6. Samford	20
7. Elon	14
8. Western Carolina	1