GAME NOTES
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford softball team will open Southern Conference play by hosting Furman in a three-game series this weekend at the Samford Softball Field. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m., and a single-game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Saturday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but was moved to 11 a.m. due to expected inclement weather in the Birmingham area.
Samford enters the weekend with a record of 10-21 so far this season. The Bulldogs are coming off a pair of losses at Austin Peay Wednesday, falling by scores of 5-2 and 10-7.
Last weekend, Samford traveled to Martin, Tenn., to compete in the Skyhawk Hampton Inn Classic, hosted by UT Martin. In that tournament, Samford earned two wins over Western Illinois (6-0, 8-4), and the Bulldogs split two games with UT Martin (W, 2-1, L, 3-2).
Following last weekend's series, right fielder
Abby Sweeney was named the SoCon's Player of the Week, and pitcher
Jessica Stone was named the league's Pitcher of the Week.
Sweeney hit an impressive .615 with two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in five games last week. She had at least one hit in every game, and she had two multi-hit games. Stone posted a record of 2-0 and a 2.15 ERA in two appearances last week. She only allowed seven hits in her two outings, and she limited opposing batters to a .152 batting average.
For the season, Samford has been led at the plate by
Shelby Maze, batting .445 so far this year. Sweeney is hitting .345 with four doubles, five home runs and 25 RBI.
Madison Couch has a .330 average so far this season.
In the circle for Samford,
Grey Adams has a 2.84 ERA and a 5-8 record. Stone is 4-3 with a 3.79 ERA, while
Taylor DeCelles has a 5.13 ERA and a 1-7 record.
Furman comes into the weekend with an overall mark of 14-14. The Paladins are coming off being swept in a doubleheader at Charlotte, falling by scores of 4-1 and 16-2.
Samford and Furman have met 41 previous times, with Furman holding a 22-19 lead in the series. Samford won two-of-three regular-season meetings last season. The teams also met in the finals of the SoCon Tournament, with Samford earning a 4-3 win in eight innings to capture the title.
This weekend also marks the beginning of Samford Softball's "Your Yeti" Contest. Fans can register to win at a number of upcoming Samford Athletics events, including this weekend's softball games. Three finalists will be chosen prior to next Wednesday's 5 p.m. game against Kennesaw State. Each finalist will take home a Yeti Rambler, the 20-ounce stainless-steel tumbler, and on Wednesday night, one of those lucky Samford Softball fans will leave the stadium with a Yeti Soft-Side Hopper 20. For more information, follow Samford Sports on both Facebook and Instagram and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.
The games can be seen live on the internet via the SoCon Digital Network, and they can be followed via live stats. Below are links to follow all of the action.
SATURDAY GAMES
GAME 1 LIVE STATS
GAME 2 LIVE STATS
GAMES 1-2 SOCON DIGITAL NETWORK
SUNDAY GAME
LIVE STATS
SOCON DIGITAL NETWORK
