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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will play its first in-state game on the road Wednesday as the Bulldogs travel to face the Alabama State Hornets at 6 p.m. (CT) in a nonconference contest to be held at ASU's Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Samford (7-10) enters the matchup with hopes of snapping a three-game losing streak. Over the weekend, the Bulldogs dropped a trio of close contests at home against Georgia State, 2-0, 1-0, and 9-7.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, Samford designated hitter Anthony Mulrine connected for his team-leading fourth home run of the season as he powered a long drive off the foul pole in left field. Mulrine's homer trimmed Georgia State's lead to 9-7, but the visiting Panthers were able to get out of the inning and hang on for the victory held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Samford's Hamp Skinner started Sunday and was issued the loss. The Bulldogs also sent Erin Baldwin, Tristan Widra, Wyatt Burns, Jake Greer, Jack Rude and Caleb Maggio to the mound.
 
Alabama State (9-6), which begins a five-game homestand Tuesday against Florida A&M, is looking to snap a losing streak. Over the weekend, the Hornets moved to 4-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play Friday with a 5-4 victory against Alabama A&M, but then dropped their last two games of the road series, 7-6 and 3-0.
 
Alabama State owns an impressive 6-1 record at home this season. So far this year, the Hornets have defeated UAB, Southern and Alcorn State at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Senior Ivanniel Vazquez (0-2, 3.14 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Alabama State on Wednesday. In his last outing, he suffered a loss in relief against Alabama A&M on Saturday, and will be making his third start this season and second at home.
 
Joseph Estrada leads Alabama State in hitting through the first 15 games of the season with an average of .382, while also connecting on six extra base hits – three doubles and three triples – and six stolen bases. Noel Cheneau is hitting .342 with five stolen bases and two doubles, while Hunter Allen is at .321 with 12 runs batted in. Hunter Phillips is hitting .317 for the Hornets in 14 games this season.
 
Samford's starting pitcher Wednesday will be true freshman Samuel Strickland (2-0, 1.08 ERA), who has already won a pair of Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week awards this season. The Bulldogs' talented left-hander has tallied 24 strikeouts this year in 16.2 innings of action.
 
Samford has won seven straight games against Alabama State, dating all the way back to March 18, 2014, when the Bulldogs suffered a 23-7 loss at home.
 
Last season, Samford defeated the Hornets twice, once in Birmingham and once on the road in Montgomery. On the road, March 8, the Bulldogs earned a 10-7 victory, while tallying a 14-4 triumph at home at Joe Lee Griffin Field on April 26.
 
BURNS NAMED TO NCBWA PRESEASON WATCH LIST
Samford relief pitcher Wyatt Burns received yet another preseason honor on Feb. 13, as the Bulldogs' senior native of Pinson was named to the 2018 Stopper of the Year Watch List by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), it was officially announced by the organization's headquarters.
 
Burns, who also earned Preseason All-SoCon honors, entered the season as one of the top closers in the nation. Last year, the Bulldogs' right-handed sidewinder finished the campaign with 12 saves and 44 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched.
 
Burns closed out his junior year with a team-high 28 appearances. Each season, the Stopper of the Year Award is given to the top relief pitcher In NCAA Division I baseball.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Under the tutelage of Head Coach Casey Dunn, Samford is the winningest Division I program in the state of Alabama since 2011, and the Bulldogs have had 22 players selected in the MLB Draft over the last seven years.

BULLDOGS TAKE MISSION TRIP TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In October, the Samford University baseball team raised its own funds and participated in a special mission trip to the Dominican Republic over fall break. The Bulldogs spent five days on the trip and visited orphanages, distributed food, helped construct houses and ministered to young children, while teaching them more about the great game of baseball.
 
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?
Following Wednesday's road test against the Alabama State Hornets, the Samford University baseball team will return home this weekend, Friday through Sunday, for a three-game series against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham.
 
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.

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