Game 1:  Friday, May 4  |  6:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2:  Saturday, May 5  |  1:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3:  Sunday, May 6  |  1:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats

Tickets  |  Game Notes  |  SoCon Notes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will begin play in a pivotal Southern Conference weekend series Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Wofford Terriers in a key three-game set to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Following Friday's series-opener, the teams will also meet at 1 p.m., on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's contest was originally scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., but was moved up to 1 p.m., due to possible rain in the area that evening.
 
Samford (25-21, 10-5 SoCon) and Wofford (30-16, 10-5 SoCon) enter this weekend's showdown series tied for second place in the conference standings. The Bulldogs and Terriers are also within striking distance of first-place UNCG (31-11, 12-3), which holds a two-game lead over both squads. UNCG will be playing at home against fellow preseason-favorite Mercer this weekend.
 
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
1)  On Saturday, Samford will be hosting a Cinco De Mayo Celebration featuring a free Taco Mama Nacho Bar for the first 100 Samford students, or while supplies last. The game will also be Family Day for the Young Alumni of Birmingham Chapter of the Samford Alumni Association.

2)  Sunday is Kids Day. The Bulldogs will be giving away free SAM. Baseballs for the first 100 kids through the gates. Post-game, fans can join the Bulldogs on the field to run the bases, play catch, and get photos and autographs from the Samford players and coaches.

PREVIEWING THE GAME
Samford returns to SoCon play this weekend after taking a week off from league action. With nine teams in the conference, each SoCon squad has a bye week during league play and last week was the Bulldogs' turn. Samford squared off at home against a scrappy SIUE team and suffered three losses.
 
The Bulldogs own a 15-11 record when playing in the friendly confines of Joe Lee Griffin Field this season, including a 4-2 mark against conference opponents.
 
On Tuesday, Samford snapped its seven-game losing streak by topping UAB, 7-5.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
Samford senior first baseman Austin Edens turned in a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, including two runs scored, four RBI and the game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Bulldogs registered a 7-5 home triumph against the UAB Blazers in a crosstown-rivalry contest held at home.
 
Edens, who is the NCAA's active career leader in home runs with 51, became Samford's all-time leader in RBI with his demonstrative outing Tuesday. The Bulldogs' native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, increased his career RBI total to 184 and surpassed former Samford-great Heath Quinn (181) in the category.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Samford opened the frame with a single from junior Troy Dixon. The Bulldogs' freshman Brooks Carlson then drew a walk to bring Edens to the plate with runners on first and second with nobody out.
 
Edens, who has already hit seven home runs this season, then sent a 2-0 offering from Troy Cordrey well over the wall in left center field for a three-run homer. Edens' blast proved to be the game-winner as he also set Samford's all-time RBI record.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW . . .
1)  Bulldog closer Wyatt Burns needs just one save to set the school's all-time record in the category with 28. Samford's senior right-hander is currently tied with Andres Gracia with 27.
 
2)  This year marks the first time in school history that the Bulldogs registered a 13-game winning streak, followed by a seven-game losing streak.
 
3)  The Bulldogs' recent 13-game winning streak was their longest in 60 years, when Samford, then known as Howard College, opened the 1958 season with a 17-game streak.
 
4)  Samford's 13-game winning streak was its second longest in school history. The Bulldogs closed out the 1957 campaign with 11 straight victories and then opened 1958 with 17 consecutive wins for a school-record, 28-game stretch.
 
5)  Since March 27, Samford owns a 14-7 record and is outscoring its opponents by a total of 131-66.
 
6)  Since March 27, the Bulldogs are also out-hitting their opponents, 210-150, which equates to a
.287 - .219 advantage in batting average, including a 16-8 difference in home runs.
 
7)  The Bulldogs' pitching staff is nationally ranked in the top 30 in four major categories. Samford is No. 8 in shutouts (6), No. 8 in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.34), No. 11 in WHIP (1.20) and No. 29 in ERA (3.43).
 
8)  Samford's ERA of 3.43 is the team's lowest since 2011, when finishing the season with a 3.11 mark. Nine members of Samford's 2011 pitching staff were either drafted or played professionally.
 
9)  Samford is outscoring opponents, 40-17, in the third inning this season. The Bulldogs also boast a 36-21 advantage in the sixth inning.
 
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Wofford has reached 30 wins so far in 2018, marking the sixth straight time the Terriers have won 30 or more games. Last season, the Terriers were 13-11 in the SoCon, which proved to be the second winning SoCon record in school history (13-10 in 2016). Wofford has won 10 or more SoCon games in each of the last six years.
 
The Terriers have three players hitting over .300 this season, led by McClain Bradley at .360. In the national rankings, Wofford is second in stolen bases (125) and second in stolen bases per game (2.72). Additionally, Wofford has stolen 100 or more bases in six straight seasons, dating back to 2013, the longest active streak in Division I.
 
Friday night starter Adam Scott has 106 strikeouts this season and is first in school history with 357 career strikeouts. He is also the NCAA active career leader in strikeouts and innings pitched.
 
Outfielder McClain Bradley (first team) and second baseman Reed Massey (second team) were selected Preseason All-SoCon.
 
THIS WEEKEND'S PITCHING MATCHUPS
 
SAMFORD'S STARTING ROTATION
Friday - - RHP, Cody Shelton, Sr. (Brentwood, Tennessee) - - 2-2 (2.85 ERA)
Saturday - - LHP, Samuel Strickland, Fr. (Birmingham, Alabama) - - 6-2 (2.26 ERA)
Sunday - - RHP, Erin Baldwin, Sr. (Lake Charles, Louisiana) - - 2-1 (1.58 ERA)
 
WOFFORD'S STARTING ROTATION
Friday - - LHP, Adam Scott, Sr. (Canandaigua, New York) - - 7-3 (2.41 ERA)
Saturday - - LHP, Austin Higginbotham, Jr. (Gainesville, Georgia) - - 5-3 (5.08 ERA)
Sunday - - TBA
 
EDENS IN THE RECORD BOOK
Samford's Edens, who is the school's all-time home run leader with 51 round-trippers, is already one of the most decorated players in school history. He is currently ranked among the top five hitters in a number of statistical categories, including home runs, RBI, total bases and doubles.
 
ALL-TIME HOME RUNS
1.  Austin Edens (2015 - current), 51
2.  Heath Quinn (2014-16), 44
 
ALL-TIME RUNS BATTED IN
1.  Austin Edens (2015 - current), 184
2.  Heath Quinn (2014-16), 181
 
ALL-TIME TOTAL BASES
1.  Austin Edens (2015 - current), 455
2.  Heath Quinn (2014-16), 425
 
ALL-TIME DOUBLES
1.  Bear Burnett (2005-08), 52
2.  Heath Quinn (2014-16), 48
3.  Phillip Ervin (2011-13), 47
4.  Hunter Swilling (2014-16), 46
5.  Austin Edens (2015 - current), 45
 
SAMFORD PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN SOCON
Samford was predicted to finish third in the SoCon 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. Wofford was picked to finish tied for seventh by the coaches, along with VMI.
 
SAMFORD'S PRESEASON ALL-SOCON HONORS
The Bulldogs' Cody Shelton was tabbed as a First-Team All-SoCon member prior to the start of the season, while Burns, Dixon and Aryton Schafer all headlined the second team.
 
Shelton, the Bulldogs' junior starting pitcher, received First-Team All-SoCon preseason honors after finishing the 2017 campaign with a 5-3 record and a 2.69 earned run average. Samford's talented right-hander from Brentwood, Tennessee, accumulated 59 strikeouts last season and only allowed a total of 19 earned runs.
 
Burns received Second-Team All-SoCon preseason accolades for a second straight year. The Bulldogs' talented senior reliever finished the 2017 campaign with 12 saves, 44 strikeouts and only 12 earned runs. Burns registered a team-high 28 appearances last season, posted a brilliant 5-1 record and concluded the year with a 2.25 earned run average.
 
Samford Dixon and Schafer also received Second-Team All-SoCon honors. Dixon, a junior this season, registered a .313 batting average in 2017 and added 33 runs and 31 RBI. Schafer, who completed a breakout freshman campaign last season, batted .331 and hammered 11 home runs. The Bulldogs' power hitter from Collierville, Tennessee, also drove in 38 runs and scored 36 runs.
 
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?
Following this weekend's critical three-game SoCon home series against Wofford, the Samford University baseball team will next be in action Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville State for their final nonconference game of the 2018 regular season, which will be held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.
 
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, May 4  |  6:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 2:  Saturday, May 5  |  1:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats
Game 3:  Sunday, May 6  |  1:00 PM (CT)  |  Video  |  Live Stats

Tickets  |  Game Notes  |  SoCon Notes