GAME NOTES: Samford vs. UNCG (03.22-23.14)

The Samford Bulldogs look to bounce back after dropping two games in the Southern Conference opener to Furman University this past weekend to host UNCG in a three-game series on March 22 & 23, at Samford Field; the double header on Saturday will start at 1 p.m.

QUICK HITTERS
The Bulldogs and the Spartans will face each other for the 19th time on Saturday with UNCG holding a decisive 12-6 record over SU. The last time the two met UNCG eliminated Samford from the 2013 SoCon Tournament by the score of 12-2 on May 10, in Greensboro, N.C.

The last time SU took a series from UNCG was back during the 2010 season when the Bulldogs took two-out-of-three from the Spartans at home.

The Spartans come into the series with the top mark in the SoCon in batting average (.308) and lead with 43 doubles on the season.

Junior Abby Adams continues to dominate at the plate and is tied for the program's single-season home run record with 10 already on the season. Adams also leads the team and the SoCon in runs (28) and RBIs (27) going into this weekend's match up.

Adams also currently ranks sixth in the country in total home runs hit this season.

Both the Bulldogs and the Spartans are looking to rebound and rejoin the conference race in this weekend's series as each team is coming off of Southern Conference opening play series loses. Samford dropped two to Furman University last weekend while UNCG went 1-2 against Georgia Southern at home in Greensboro, N.C.

ON DECK
Samford goes on the road to face Southern University in a double header on March 25, at 2 p.m. then travels up the road to take on Mississippi State University on March 26, with first-pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

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, 27 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'S HOT HAND
Junior Mollie Hanson picked up where she left off last season notching an 10-5 record surpassing her 7-6 mark from last season. The Dothan, Ala., native has pitched a total of 79.2 innings with 88 strikeouts and only 17 walks through 10 starts.  Hanson currently holds a 1.67 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 18 of 65 (.277) has scored 18 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 53 (.226) with 10 runs scored, six 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 6-1 record with 34 strike outs and 24 walks through 45.0 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 70 (.343) at the plate with four doubles,  a triple, three home runs, six walks,  14 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Taylor is 14 for 47 (.298) with three home runs, 14 RBIs, eight runs scored and has an OBP of .377 and is slugging .511.

Brister is 21 of 78 (.269) 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 47 (.319) with 11 RBIs, 11 runs scored with a double and three home runs. She currently is slugging .532 with a .396 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 now have 32 which ranks first in the Southern Conference and has eclipsed the school's single season record. SU also ranks first in the SoCon in hits (226), runs (166),  and stolen bases (38).