BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team opens up the last month of the regular season with a three-game SoCon series against ETSU at the Samford Softball Field. The Bulldogs will take on the Buccaneers in a doubleheader on Friday, April 3, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. before they wrap up play with a single game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Bulldogs (24-13, 5-1 SoCon) ended the month of March on a four-game win streak and look to carry that momentum over to this weekend's series against the Buccaneers (12-19, 1-5 SoCon).
ETSU is in its first season back in the SoCon since 2005; they were first introduced in the SoCon in 2001 and compiled a 46-55 record in SoCon play over those years. It will also be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Junior
Megan Dowdy continues to be a constant driving force for Samford's offense and has inspired others to be threat's at the plate as well. Those others include: junior
Caroline Wilder, sophomore
Abby Sweeney and junior
Callie Brister, all three have increased their offensive production over the last couple of weeks.
Wilder has been on a tear since SoCon play began as she is hitting a blistering .524 at the plate with 11 hits in 21 at-bats with a double, a home run, four RBIs and four runs scored. Sweeney has put up similar numbers over the span of six conference games as well. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native has hit three home runs to go along with a .381 average with six RBIs and four runs scored.
Brister really picked up her conference play in last weekend's series against UNCG. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native went 5 for 11 (.455), two of which were home runs, against the Spartans on the road and scored five RBIs to go along with five runs scored on those five hits.
Samford has only thrown three pitchers in its' six SoCon games this season with redshirt junior
Mollie Hanson (14-6, 5-1 SoCon) being the workhorse in the circle. The Dothan, Alabama native has received the decision in every SoCon contest this year which includes two doubleheader sweeps of Furman and UNCG. Hanson has a recorded a 2.95 ERA in the circle during conference competitions which includes two complete-game shutouts, an opposing batting average of .253 and a 24 to 7 strikeout to walk ratio over 38.0 innings pitched.
The Buccaneers much like the Spartans are tough out at the plate and it is expected that they will bring their bats with them on the road this weekend. ETSU ranks thirds in the SoCon in total home runs with 34, just two being Samford's league leading 36, and consistently put the ball in play as they have only struck out as a team 135 times in 848 at-bats.
This weekend's competitions can be followed via live stats located at SamfordSports.com, via live video courtesy of the SoCon Digital Network or fans can follow on Twitter by following @SamfordSB. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt following Saturday's series finale, so bring your baskets!
