BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University softball team embarks on another road trip as the team continues to ready itself for Southern Conference play. This weekend the Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to take on Jacksonville University for a three game series that will start on Saturday, March 14, at noon and 2 p.m. with both games set to air on ESPN 3.

Samford (15-8) recently had its' midweek competition against Mississippi State canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions and it marks the third time this season that the Bulldogs have had to call a midweek game in 2015.

THE HISTORY
The Bulldogs and the Dolphins have squared off only two previous times with Samford taking both contests in a double header back on March 23, 2003 in Birmingham. SU won a 4-3 affair in 10 inning thriller in game one then ousted JU 8-2 in game two to end the day.

BULLDOG BITES
• Freshman first baseman Karsin Spinks is having a stellar start to her collegiate career as she is hitting .349 at the plate with 22 hits which includes three doubles, two triples and a home run. The Hogansville, Ga. native is currently riding a seven game hit-streak going into the contest against Mississippi State. Her first collegiate home run came against then No.3 University of Alabama on Feb. 11.
 
• Junior outfielder Megan Dowdy has been the definition of consistent for the Bulldogs so far this season. The Fairhope, Ala. native leads the team and the SoCon with a .444 average at the plate and a team-high 36 hits on the season with five doubles and a triple. Last season Dowdy broke the school record for most hits in a season with 67 and is on pace to break her own record this season should she keep up her torrid pace.
 
• The NCAA has released its' nationwide statistics and the Bulldogs come in as the nation's 26th best hitting team. Samford currently ranks second in the SoCon with a team batting average of .333 but lead the conference in hits (208), doubles (36) and total bases (304).
 
• Junior Caitlin Bice is in the midst of a breakout season for the Bulldogs. The Chelsea, Ala. native is one home run away from tying her season-high of six home runs that she set last season and is on track to plate more RBIs and runs scored than she did in 2014. Bice is currently hitting .385 from the plate with 20 hits, five doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Her five home runs put her tied for first in the SoCon standings.
 
• Sophomore catcher Abby Sweeney is another Bulldog who has burst onto the scene as she has already surpassed her home run total from her freshman campaign and is close to scoring more runs and RBIs than she did in 2014.

WHAT'S NEXT
Samford will return home to the Samford Softball Field for a five game home stand that will start with a double header against Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, March 18, at 2 & 4 p.m. then will host its' first SoCon series of the season when Furman makes the trip down to Birmingham for a three game series set to start on Saturday, March 21.