SAMFORD AT UAB GAME NOTES

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team will play at cross-town rival UAB Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Regions Field, and then will host ETSU in a three-game SoCon series this weekend.

Samford enters the week with a record of 10-10 overall and 3-0 in Southern Conference play after sweeping a three-game SoCon series at UNCG last weekend.  UAB is currently 7-10 after losing two-of-three games to Indiana State over the weekend. ETSU comes into the week with a mark of 12-7 overall and 2-1 in SoCon play after winning two-of-three games against VMI last weekend.
 

THE RUN DOWN
Opponents:  at UAB (7-10), vs. ETSU (12-7, 2-1 SoCon)
Dates:  Mar. 23 and Mar. 26-27, 2021
Site:  Birmingham, Ala. (Tues at Regions Field, Fri-Sat at Joe Lee Griffin Field)
Time: 5:30 p.m. (Tues.), 4 p.m. Fri.), 1 p.m. DH (Sat.)
Broadcasts (C-USA TV and ESPN+): Find links at: Baseball Schedule
Live Stats: Find links at: Baseball Schedule

SERIES HISTORY

• Samford and UAB have met 88 previous times, with UAB holding a 58-30 series lead. The teams did not play last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Samford and UAB last met in 2019, with UAB earning wins in both matchups. In 16-plus seasons under head coach Casey Dunn, Samford has a record of 21-8 against the Blazers.
• Samford and ETSU have played 18 times, with ETSU holding a 10-8 series lead. The teams last met in 2019, with Samford winning two-of-three games in Johnson City, Tenn.

 
FOCAL POINT

• Samford will look to build off its SoCon series sweep at UNCG last weekend.

 
BULLDOGS TO WATCH

• Towns King has gotten his season off to a hot start. He is currently leading the team with a .341 batting average. In the four games last week, he posted a .384 average with a double and an RBI.
• Entering this week, Ryan Crockett has reached base in a team season-high 14 straight games. He has at least one hit in 12 of those 14 games, while drawing a walk in the other two. His best game came in game two of the UNCG series. In that contest, he went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
• Samford players are in the top five in the Southern Conference in several statistical categories. Samford players rank in the top five in the league in runs scored (Sonny DiChiara, T-4th--19), home runs (Sonny DiChiara-T-3rd--5), walks (Sonny DiChiara-1st--17), sacrifice bunts (Max Pinto-T-2nd--3), stolen bases (Max Pinto-T-3rd--8), earned run average (Samuel Strickland-3rd--2.60), wins (Samuel Strickland & Carson Cupo-T-2nd--3), saves (Chase Isbell-T-1st--3), appearances (Carson Cupo-T-2nd--10) and games finished (Chase Isbell-1st--8). 

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Samford head coach Casey Dunn, already the winningest coach in Samford history, enters the week with 508 career wins, making him the first Samford coach in any sport to win 500 games. Dunn has won four conference titles, and has posted 12 30-win seasons during his 16-plus seasons at Samford.
• Entering this week, Samford junior pitcher Samuel Strickland ranks third in school history in wins. Strickland currently has 21 wins. The current record holder is Josh Martin with 24 career victories.

 
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford baseball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordBaseball (Facebook), @SamfordBaseball (Instagram) and @SamfordBaseball (Twitter).