GAME NOTES: Bulldogs vs. Runnin' Bulldogs (03.08-09.14)

Samford travels to Boiling Springs, N.C. to take on Gardner-Webb University in a three game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March, 8, at noon and 2 p.m. then will wrap up play on Sunday, March 9, at noon.

QUICK HITTERS
The Bulldogs and the Runnin' Bulldogs have previously met only twice before this weekend's series; Samford has taken the two contests by the scores of 4-3 and 3-2, both were extra inning affairs.

SU continues to blow past 2013 season marks and break down old program records with its remarkable season. The Bulldogs have surpassed its 2013 season run total (135) this past weekend and now have scored a total of 136 runs through just 21 games. Samford is also on the brink of equaling the programs single-season home run record of 31 which was set back in 2003 and tied in 2011; the team already has 29 on the season.

Sophomore Megan Dowdy leads the Southern Conference with 29 hits on the season and also has the top mark in the stolen bases category with 11 swipes out of 12 attempts.  Dowdy also ranks third in the conference in batting average (.403).

The Bulldogs placed four on the Coastal Carolina Invitational All-Tournament Team after going undefeated at the CCU Invitational this past weekend. Abby Adams, Caitlin Bice, Megan Dowdy and Mollie Hanson all earned honors while in Conway, S.C.
 
Adams led the way offensively for SU going 7 for 12 at the plate with two home runs,  six RBIs, six runs scored, a double and two walks. Bice also went 7 for 12 with six runs scored, four RBIs, one home run and a walk.
 
Dowdy was 5 for 12 with five runs scored and three RBIs. Hanson lowered her ERA almost a complete point after pitching two complete-game victories with no earned runs scored, 14 Ks and only one walk through 14 innings pitched.

Grey Adams and Rebecca Leonard picked up complete-game victories this past weekend each earning 17-1 victories over UMES and Saint Peter's respectively. Leonard pitched a two-hitter and struck out seven through five innings. Adams was only touched for five hits, recorded six strikeouts and only allowed one walk.
 
ON DECK
Samford returns home for a solo contest against Alabama State University on Tuesday, March 11, at 6 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 21 runs scored, 20 RBIs and eight 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 is tied for seventh in the school's history with 14 career-home runs.
 
HANSON IS HEATING UP
Junior Mollie Hanson picked up where she left off last season notching an 8-3 record surpassing her 7-6 mark from last season. The Dothan, Ala., native has pitched a total of 60.2 innings with 66 strikeouts and only 12 walks through four starts.  Hanson currently holds a 1.96 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 13 of 48 (.271) has scored 13 runs,  recorded 12 RBIs,  four home runs, two doubles and three 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.
 
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 42 (.286) 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 four starts holds a 5-0 record with 27 strike outs and 13 walks through 21.1 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 19 for 54 (.352) at the plate with two doubles,  a triple, three home runs, six walks,  12 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
 
Taylor is 12 for 39 (.308) with three home runs, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored and has an OBP of .386 and is slugging .564.
 
Brister is 15 of 60 (.250) with 15 RBIs, 13 runs scored, seven walks,  three 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 over the past two weeks.
 
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sweeney has crushed at the plate going 11 for 35 (.400) with eight RBIs, 10 runs scored with a double and three home runs. She currently is slugging .600 with a .415 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 29 which ranks first in the Southern Conference and is two away from the single season record. SU also ranks first in the SoCon in hits (175), runs (136), batting average (.309) and stolen bases (29).
 
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	11