BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team jumps right back into competition after a one day break with a midweek solo contest against Alabama State University on Tuesday, March 31, in Montgomery, Alabama at 6 p.m.
The Bulldogs (23-13, 5-1 SoCon) have met the Hornets (10-22, 4-1 SWAC) already once this season during the Samford Tournament on Feb. 20. Samford dispatched Alabama State 10-4 in the contest which saw the emergence of sophomore
Abby Sweeney.
Sweeney went 3 for 4 at the plate with a triple and belted her first home run of the season. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native also tallied three RBIs and four runs scored in the effort.
Three other Bulldogs had multiple hit games that day with the outfield trio of junior leadoff hitter
Megan Dowdy (4 for 5) and sophomore center fielder
Shelby Maze (4 for 4) tallied four hits apiece while senior
Caroline Seay also notched a 3 for 4 performance with an RBI and one run scored.
Historically Samford has been the favorite in the contests over Alabama State as the Bulldogs hold an all-time record of 17-0 over the Hornets. In 2010 ASU took SU into extra innings where the Bulldogs won 5-2 in eight innings in Birmingham.
Expect Dowdy to lead the offense from her leadoff position again tomorrow as she has just come off of another solid week at the plate. The Fairhope, Alabama native turned a .550 performance at the plate last week going 11 for 20 with a double, four RBI, six runs scored and a pair of home runs to boot; it is the second consecutive week the talented batter turned in an average of .550 or better.
Flying under the radar the past few weeks has been junior
Caroline Wilder. The Montgomery native returns home after having an outstanding week; Wilder paced the team with a .643 average going 9 for 14 with a double, a walk, three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Everyone in the Bulldogs lineup has been successful at the plate but none have been more productive than junior third baseman
Callie Brister. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native notched only 13 RBIs through the first 31 games of the season and has since drove in nine RBIs in her last five games.
Samford will have to continue to excel both at the plate and in the circle tomorrow as every game must be earned. Alabama State despite its record has been on a tear lately winning four of its last five games coming into tomorrow's matchup.
The Hornets have outscored its opponents 26-11 over the last five games thanks in part to impressive hitting from Carly Evans (.377), Alexis Johnson (.358) and Kendall Core (.351). ASU as a team has nine players batting over .300 on its roster.
You can follow along with tomorrow's action via live stats on
www.SamfordSports.com
