Game 1 - - Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2 - - Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3 - - Sunday at Noon (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will begin play in a three-game nonconference homestand Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Eastern Michigan Eagles to Joe Lee Griffin Field for a key early-season weekend series.
 
Samford (10-6) enters the game with a good bit of positive momentum after downing in-state rival Alabama on the road Wednesday in decisive fashion, 10-3. The victory ended a five-game road losing streak versus the Crimson Tide and proved to be the Bulldogs' first at Alabama since April 5, 2011.
 
Since Feb. 26, Samford owns a significant 8-2 record, which also includes wins against Auburn and Indiana, as well as a three-game series sweep of Eastern Illinois.
 
The Bulldogs boast a 7-2 record at home this season, but following this weekend's series, will only play one of their next nine games in the friendly confines of The Griff.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
Samford pounded out 13 hits and equaled its season-high with 10 runs scored Wednesday in a 10-3 road victory against the Alabama Crimson Tide held at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
 
With their win, the Bulldogs improved to 15-3 against in-state opponents since April 7, 2015, including a 3-1 record in 2017. Already this season, Samford has defeated Alabama, Auburn, 7-6, and Alabama State, 10-7.
 
The Bulldogs received a brilliant pitching performance from starter Cody Shelton. Shelton, Samford's talented 6-foot-5 sophomore from Brentwood, Tennessee, didn't allow a single earned run Wednesday, while limiting the Crimson Tide to four hits in five innings. Shelton compiled six strikeouts and left the game after five full frames of action with a 3-1 advantage.
 
Sophomore right-fielder Jordan Fucci reached base safely in all five at-bats Wednesday and turned in a stellar 3-for-3 outing at the dish. He also scored a run for the Bulldogs.
 
Additionally, Samford's Kevin Williams, Jr., Troy Dixon and Anthony Mulrine all added multi-hit performances, while T.J. Dixon, Branden Fryman, Austin Edens and Sam Teague also registered base hits. Eight of the Bulldogs' nine starters tallied hits against Alabama.
 
T.J. Dixon, who earned an infield single in the sixth inning, extended his impressive hitting streak to 15 games. Fryman also improved his hitting streak to 11, while Edens and Mulrine currently boast marks of nine and seven straight games, respectively.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Eastern Michigan (3-13) heads into this weekend's series looking to end its current two-game losing streak. Since earning a 15-11 road victory at Fresno State in Friday's series opener last week, the Eagles dropped the final two matchups of the three-game set, 10-2, 6-3.
 
Eastern Michigan opened its 2017 campaign with a strong 6-2 victory against Missouri in a neutral-site contest held at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. The Eagles' other win occurred Feb. 24, versus St. Bonaventure, 12-7, in Port Charlotte, Florida. Since that victory, Eastern Michigan owns a 1-9 record.
 
The Eagles are 1-6 in true road games this season.
 
Eastern Michigan's top hitter this year has been Devin Hager with a .317 batting average in 12 games played. The Eagles have registered three home runs this season, while John Montgomery has accounted for two of them.
 
SAMFORD'S STARTING ROTATION
Friday - - RHP, Mikhail Cazenave, Sr. (Rainbow City, Alabama) - - 2-1 (4.37 ERA)
Saturday - - RHP, Jesse McCord, So. (Spanish Fort, Alabama) - - 1-2 (6.75 ERA)
Sunday - - RHP, Stephen Jones, So. (Tallahassee, Florida) - - 1-1 (7.47 ERA)
 
EASTERN MICHIGAN'S STARTING ROTATION
Friday - - RHP, Sam Delaplane, Sr. (San Jose, Calif.) - - 0-1 (0.84 ERA)
Saturday - - RHP, Brad Allen, Jr. (Manchester, Mich.) - - 0-2 (3.74 ERA)
Sunday - - RHP, Brent Mattson, Jr. (Canton, Mich.) - - 2-1 (9.56 ERA)
 
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?
Following this weekend's three-game home series against Eastern Michigan, the Samford University baseball team will next be in action Tuesday on the road against the Troy Trojans. The in-state matchup is slated to begin at 6 p.m. (CT) and will be held at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordBaseball and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

Game 1 - - Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2 - - Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3 - - Sunday at Noon (CT) - - Tickets  |  Video  |  Live Stats