SAMFORD vs. HARVARD  |  Feb. 23-25  |  Joe Lee Griffin Field

Game 1 - - Friday, Feb. 23 - - 2:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2 - - Friday, Feb. 23 - - 5:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3 - - Saturday, Feb. 24 - - 2:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Stats
Game 4 - - Sunday, Feb. 25 - - Noon (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats

Samford Game Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will continue play in its current six-game homestand this weekend as the Bulldogs square off against the Harvard Crimson in a four-game series to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams are slated to open the series with a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. (CT), followed by games Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (Noon).
 
Samford (2-2) enters the weekend with a full head of steam after registering back-to-back victories against No. 22 UCF, 5-4, and Jacksonville State, 9-3.
 
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs scored six runs on six hits, including a massive home run from sophomore Anthony Mulrine in the third inning alone to earn a 9-3 victory against the Gamecocks in their home-opening game of the season.
 
Samford powered 14 hits in the contest as all nine starters registered at least one base hit in the eight-inning affair. The Bulldogs' Troy Dixon led the way with a 2-for-4 outing, as well as three RBI and a run scored.
 
Samford also received multi-hit performances from Branden Fryman (2-for-5), Jordan Fucci (2-for-4), Ayrton Schafer (2-for-3) and Ryan Crockett (2-for-4). Mulrine powered his team-leading third home run of the season, while Fucci added his first round-tripper of the 2018 campaign.
 
Sophomore Hamp Skinner started the game for Samford and hurled the first four innings of the midweek contest. Skinner only allowed a single hit in the game and boasted a no-hitter until the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs' native of Jacksonville, Florida, registered two of Samford's 10 strikeouts on the night.
 
The Bulldogs' pitching staff only allowed a total of two base hits, and two of the Gamecocks' three runs scored were unearned.
 
Harvard (0-0) heads into its first series of the 2018 campaign Friday. On Feb. 14, the Crimson was voted to finish fifth in the first Ivy League preseason poll. This was the first time that the Ivy League conducted a preseason ranking, soliciting votes from media members from each institution, sports information directors and the national media. 
 
Last season, Harvard finished the campaign with a 7-13 Ivy League record and a 19-23 mark overall. The Crimson returns 25 players from the 2017 season and will welcome nine freshmen to the roster this spring.
 
SAMFORD PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
The Bulldogs were predicted to finish third in the Southern Conference preseason standings by both the coaches and media as the league headquarters officially released the annual picks.
 
In the coaches' vote, Samford received 43 points and came in third place behind UNCG and Mercer, which both finished tied for first place with 58 points apiece. On the media side, the Bulldogs' 82 points placed third again behind Mercer and UNCG. Mercer garnered the first-place spot with 119 points, while UNCG followed with 114.
 
FILLING SOME FAMILIAR SHOES
Samford junior Troy Dixon has been tasked with filling some big shoes this season. After his older brother, T.J., started for four straight seasons in center field for the Bulldogs and was subsequently drafted in the 24th round by the Minnesota Twins in 2017, Dixon is now filling his spot both in center field and in the lead-off position for Samford this season.
 
Last year, Dixon started at second base for the Bulldogs and batted primarily in the ninth spot.
 
QUICK NOTES
- - - Branden Fryman's father, Travis Fryman, played 13 years in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. He is currently a hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians farm system. He also managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers from 2008 to 2010.
 
- - - Samford's Wyatt Burns is the SoCon's active leader in saves with 20. The Bulldogs' senior closer is also the conference's SoCon's active career leader in earned run average (2.63), lowest opponent batting average (.224) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.24).
 
- - - Two years ago, Samford's Austin Edens powered 19 home runs and finished the year ranked eighth in the nation in the category. The Bulldogs' powerful senior first baseman is currently ranked first on the SoCon's active career leader's list with 45 home runs.
 
COMING UP NEXT
Following this weekend's four-game home series against Harvard, the Samford University baseball team will next be in action Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide to Joe Lee Griffin Field for a key in-state showdown.
 
TWITTER
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, Feb. 23 - - 2:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2 - - Friday, Feb. 23 - - 5:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3 - - Saturday, Feb. 24 - - 2:00 PM (CT)  |  Live Stats
Game 4 - - Sunday, Feb. 25 - - Noon (CT)  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats

Samford Game Notes