GAME NOTES: Samford at Furman (03.15-16.14)

Samford travels to Greenville, S.C. to take on Furman University in a three game series with a doubleheader to kick things off on Saturday, March, 15, at noon/2 p.m. and then will wrap up play on Sunday, March 16, at noon.

QUICK HITTERS
 
This Southern Conference opener will also mark as the 38th all-time meeting between the two schools with Furman holding a 16-21 advantage over Samford. The last time these two schools met it resulted in 1-0 victory by the Bulldogs in the 2013 SoCon tournament on May 9, 2013.

SU continues to blow past its 2013 season marks and continues to break down old program records with its remarkable season. Samford broke the program's single-season home run record of 31 which was set back in 2003 and tied in 2011; junior Abby Adams broke the record with a two-run home run against Alabama State on March, 11, to give the team 32 on the year. The Bulldogs have also surpassed its 2013 season run total (135) this past weekend and now have scored a total of 165 runs before it enters SoCon play.

The Bulldogs enter the week with ranking in the top 100 of nine NCAA statistical categories: home runs (9th), double plays per game (27th), scoring (20th), and slugging percentage (33rd) are just to just name a few.

Mollie Hanson's 10 victories and 84 strikeouts rank her 19th and 38th respectively in the first NCAA statistical rankings released earlier this week. Abby Adams currently ranks fifth in the country in total home runs hit (10) and now is tied for first in the Samford record books for individual home runs hit in a season.

Sophomore Megan Dowdy leads the Southern Conference with 33 hits on the season and also has the top mark in the stolen bases category with 13 swipes out of 14 attempts.  Dowdy also ranks fifth in the conference in batting average (.379).
 
ON DECK

Samford returns home for a three-game home stand against UNCG on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m./3 p.m., then wrap up play on Sunday, Mar. 23, at 1 p.m. You can catch the game live via video stream with play-by-play from James Hardy at SamfordSports.com
 
ADAMS MOVING UP THE RECORD BOOK
Junior Abby Adams has continued her hot streak at the plate for the Bulldogs this season. The Hobart, Ind. native leads the team and SoCon with 28 runs scored, 26 RBIs and 10 home runs.
 
Adams picked up the Bulldogs third ever SoCon Player of the Week award after her performance the week of Feb. 18-25, going 9 for 19 (.474) with five RBIs, eight runs scored, three walks and two stolen bases.
 
Adams ranks fifth in the school history with 16 career-home runs.
 
HANSON IS HEATING UP
Junior Mollie Hanson picked up where she left off last season notching an 10-4 record surpassing her 7-6 mark from last season. The Dothan, Ala., native has pitched a total of 73.2 innings with 84 strikeouts and only 15 walks through four starts.  Hanson currently holds a 1.71 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 17 of 61 (.279) has scored 17 runs,  recorded 13 RBIs,  four home runs, two doubles, a triple and three stolen bases entering conference play.
 
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.
 
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, 3 RBIs and two runs scored. Since then Dickey is batting 12 for 49 (.245) with 10 runs scored, five RBIs and is tied for the team lead with four doubles.
 
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 five starts holds a 6-0 record with 34 strike outs and 17 walks through 39.1 innings pitched.

SUPER SOPHOMORES
A trio of sophomores has 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 24 for 64 (.375) at the plate with four doubles,  a triple, three home runs, six walks,  14 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
 
Taylor is 14 for 45 (.311) with three home runs, 14 RBIs, eight runs scored and has an OBP of .392 and is slugging .533.
 
Brister is 19 of 73 (.260) with 18 RBIs, 14 runs scored, seven walks,  four doubles and four 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 since seeing significant action.
 
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sweeney has crushed at the plate going 15 for 44 (.341) with 11 RBIs, 11 runs scored with a double and three home runs. She currently is slugging .568 with a .420 OBP.
 
LEADING THE SoCon
Samford is having a record setting season combined with the team's best start in the program's 27 year history.
 
The Bulldogs have surpassed its 2013 mark of 20 home runs and the 32 the team has now ranks first in the Southern Conference and has eclipsed the school's single season record. SU also ranks first in the SoCon in hits (216), runs (165), and stolen bases (37).