BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team concludes its regular season with a road trip of monumental proportions as they are scheduled to take on UT-Chattanooga for the final SoCon series of the regular season on May 2-3, at Frost Stadium.
The Bulldogs (30-19, 9-6 SoCon) currently sit in third place in the SoCon standings and have the opportunity to claim the SoCon regular season title with a series sweep of the Mocs (31-11, 11-3 SoCon) and some help from around the league.
Chattanooga hasn't hosted many games at home this season but the team still holds an unblemished 6-0 record in the safe confines of Frost Stadium.
The solid pitching of the Mocs will face a stout Bulldogs lineup in the series. SU sports six batters hitting over the .300 mark in the regular lineup; junior
Megan Dowdy leads the way as one of the SoCon's top hitters with a .449 average and 79 hits on the season.
Dowdy is just five hits from tying the Samford all-time career hits record as she sits with 185 throughout her three years at SU.
For the Bulldogs to be successful at the plate they will need to work hard against a pair of talented pitchers for the Mocs. Taylor Deason (12-4) and Cori Jennings (13-5) have combined for 25 of the Mocs 31 wins, Deason sports a 2.22 ERA while Jennings comes into the matchup with a 2.67 ERA in the circle.
It'll be up to redshirt junior
Mollie Hanson (17-9) alongside sophomores
Grey Adams (8-5) and
Rebecca Leonard (3-3) to keep the Mocs off-balance at the plate this weekend. UTC is led by Sara Beth Roberts who comes in with a .403 average on 48 hits with 35 runs scored and 27 RBIs on 11 doubles and 10 home runs.
Historically the Bulldogs haven't had much luck against the Mocs as UTC controls the all-time series record 36-9 over the past 45 meetings. However, last season the Bulldogs pulled off its first SoCon series victory 2-1 (1-0, 1-5, 4-2) at home over the Mocs.
The series will start on Saturday, May 2, at 6 p.m. (CDT) and will conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, May 3, at noon and 2 p.m. (CDT).
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