BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University softball team is set for a Southern Conference clash with monumental SoCon standings implications. The Bulldogs currently sit first in the SoCon with an 8-1 record and the Catamounts follow closely behind in second place with a record of 5-4. The two teams will start game one of the three-game series with a doubleheader today at 1 p.m.

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Series At A Glance

• The all-time series record between the two programs is extremely close as Western Carolina holds the slight edge 11-12 and has taken the last four SoCon series.
• The last time Samford defeated the Catamounts in a three-game conference series occurred on March 26-27, 2011 at home where the Bulldogs won the series 2-1 (12-5, 4-3, 7-8).
• This weekend will mark the first time that the Catamounts will play at new SU Softball Stadium. The Bulldogs have had to travel to Cullowhee, N.C. to compete with the Catamounts the past two seasons.

 
News, Notes & Nuggets

• The Bulldogs return to Southern Conference action at home after spending last weekend on the road at Furman University. Samford claimed its third-straight SoCon series taking the three-game decision 2-1 (1-5, 11-6, 9-6) over the Paladins. It marked the first time the Bulldogs had taken a three-game series on the road against Furman.
• Sophomore Shelby Maze has been on fire at the plate as she is currently on a 14-game hitting streak and has served as one of the main catalyst for the Bulldogs offense. Lexie Higgins has the longest reached base streak on the team currently as she has reached safely over the last 16 games.
• Senior Megan Dowdy comes into this weekend's contest against the Catamounts with the most multi-hit games on the Samford squad. The Fairhope, Ala. native has tallied 18 multi-hit games with one four-hit performance. Dowdy is also amongst one of the nation's toughest to strikeout as she has only done so twice so far this season and sits 7th nationally in that category.
• As a team Samford ranks nationally in batting average (35^th), doubles per game (21^st), fielding percentage (23^rd), home runs per game (44^th), scoring (58^th) and slugging percentage (28^th).
• Let's add one more to the record watch as senior Callie Brister is creeping towards Amanda Barrs career RBI record of 119. The Tuscaloosa, Ala. native has tallied 116 RBIs throughout her career at Samford and currently sits second overall in the record book

Around The SoCon

• Chattanooga is currently on its off-week from Southern Conference action and has no games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
• ETSU travels to take on Mercer in a three-game series. The Bears are looking to jump back into the SoCon frey as they currently sit in the bottom of the standings at 1-5 while the ETSU Bucs are tied for fourth at 3-3 with UNCG.
• UNCG currently sits and 3-3 in the SoCon standings and will welcome a dangerous Furman team this weekend. The Paladins took a game from the Bulldogs at their home field and looks improve this weekend in Greensboro, N.C.

 
 
SoCon Standings
 

SoCon Softball	SoCon					Overall
Team	Record	Pct	Home	Away	Streak	Record	Pct	Home	Away	Neutral	Streak
Samford	8-1	.889	3-0	5-1	W2	24-16	.600	9-3	9-6	6-7	W3
Western Carolina	5-4	.556	3-3	2-1	L2	29-15	.659	9-5	9-7	11-3	W2
UNCG	3-3	.500	2-1	1-2	W2	26-16	.619	19-6	2-6	5-4	L1
ETSU	3-3	.500	1-2	2-1	L1	12-13	.480	4-4	4-6	4-3	L1
Chattanooga	4-5	.444	2-1	2-4	W2	22-21	.512	10-7	3-6	9-8	L1
Furman	3-6	.333	2-4	1-2	L2	22-22	.500	14-12	2-6	6-4	W2
Mercer	1-5	.167	0-3	1-2	L2	18-24	.429	10-6	4-10	4-8	L2