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TROY, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will compete in its final nonconference matchup prior to the beginning of Southern Conference play Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs travel to face the Troy Trojans in an in-state showdown to be held at Riddle-Pace Field.
 
Samford (10-11) enters the contest with a full head of steam after earning a three-game sweep of Alabama A&M over the weekend. In the home series, Samford outscored A&M, 18-6, and extended its winning streak in the series to five straight games.
 
On Sunday, the Bulldogs earned a decisive 9-2 win. Samford tallied 14 hits in the victory and were paced by junior Troy Dixon and freshman Brooks Carlson. Dixon finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a runs scored, while Carlson went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a massive home run deep off the batter's eye in straightaway center field.
 
Carlson's round-tripper proved to be the first of his collegiate career.
 
The Bulldogs also received a multi-hit performance from freshman Blaine Smith, who started at second base and turned in a 2-for-3 outing at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Samford's Branden Fryman, Austin Edens, Max Pinto, Sam Teague and Sam McWhorter also registered key base hits.
 
Last week, in games against Alabama State and Alabama A&M, Samford's Smith compiled a brilliant .571 batting average. He finished 4-for-7 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored.
 
The Bulldogs' Dixon also registered a .429 batting average with three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Additionally, Samford's Ayrton Schafer turned in a .400 average, while Carlson accumulated a .357 batting average last week.
 
Troy (13-7) has been victorious in nine of its last 12 outings, but lost its Sun Belt Conference-opening series against Little Rock over the weekend, two games to one.
 
All three contests were low-scoring, with Little Rock winning the first and third matchups by identical 3-1 scores. The Trojans' lone victory in the series occurred Saturday and proved to be a 2-0 shutout.
 
Troy boasts a stellar 11-3 record at home this season. So far this year, the Trojans have defeated UT Martin, UAB, Tennessee Tech, Gardner-Webb and Little Rock when playing at Riddle-Pace Field.
 
Joey Denison, who is ranked 15th nationally with 27 RBI, will lead the charge at the plate for Troy.
 
Freshman right-hander Levi Thomas will make his first career start Tuesday. He's made one appearance this season – one inning of one-hit scoreless work with two strikeouts against Gardner-Webb.
 
STARTING PITCHER
Samford's starting pitcher Tuesday will be junior right-hander Connor Radcliff. Radcliff will be making his second appearance of the season after starting against Alabama A&M on Saturday and hurling one inning of scoreless action.
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Troy owns a 42-22 lead in the all-time series between the teams, including a 26-5 mark when playing at home.
 
IN THE LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE TEAMS
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Samford surrendered a pair of runs on two hits as the visiting Trojans rallied for a 5-4 come-from-behind nonconference win held March 6, at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Troy's Brandon Lockridge started the rally with a double to left field. Then, with two outs, he was on second base when Denison strolled to the plate.
 
Denison, who finished the night with a 2-for-5 performance at the dish with two RBI and a run scored, chopped a ground ball to Samford's Fryman. Fryman bobbled the ball to allow Denison to reach first and then compounded the mistake as he tried to throw out Lockridge at third.
 
Fryman's throw proved to be errant and Lockridge crossed the plate for the game-tying run. Two hitters later, the Trojans' Drew Frederic singled to right center and Denison was able to score from second base for what proved to be the game-winning run.
 
Frederic finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Samford was unable to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, therefore Troy earned its first victory at Joe Lee Griffin Field since 2013.
 
The Bulldogs' Josh Rich suffered the loss despite not allowing an earned run, while the Trojans' Lance Johnson tallied the victory and CJ Carter registered his first save of the season.
 
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' MULRINE NAMED TO JOHNNY BENCH AWARD WATCH LIST
Samford's Anthony Mulrine was officially named to the Watch List for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award, it was announced March 7, by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
 
Samford's talented sophomore catcher from Davie, Florida, boasts a .278 batting average this season to go along with five home runs and a team-high 19 RBI. He has already started in 20 games and added 11 runs and 18 walks. Last season, Mulrine earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors and led the conference in throwing out potential base-stealers with 27.
 
Mulrine is listed among the nation's elite catchers on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. Joining him on the prestigious listing are Texas A&M's Cole Bedford, Arkansas' Grant Koch, Texas' DJ Petrinsky, Florida State's Cal Raleigh, Louisville's Pat Rumoro, Arizona's Cesar Salazar and Florida's JJ Schwarz, among others.
 
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?
Following Tuesday's road test against the Troy Trojans, the Samford University baseball team will next be in action this weekend, Friday through Sunday, as the Bulldogs return home for a Southern Conference-opening, three-game series against the ETSU Buccaneers 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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