SAMFORD VS. UNCG GAME NOTES

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team will play host to the UNCG Spartans in a three-game Southern Conference weekend series at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams are set to play a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a record of 28-19 overall and 17-7 in Southern Conference play. Samford is coming off a 6-1 win over Auburn Wednesday night. UNCG is currently 25-21 overall and 10-14 in SoCon play. The Spartans are coming off a 3-2 win at North Carolina Tuesday night.

THE RUN DOWN
Opponent: vs. UNCG (25-21, 10-14 SoCon)
Dates: May 14-15, 2021
Site: Birmingham, Ala. (Joe Lee Griffin Field)
Time: May 14: 2 p.m. CT/5 p.m. CT (DH), May 15: 1 p.m. CT
ESPN+ Broadcasts: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3
Live Stats: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3

SERIES HISTORY

• Samford and UNCG have met 38 previous times, with Samford holding a 25-13 lead in the series.
• The teams met in a three-game series in Greensboro, N.C., earlier this season. Samford swept the series by scores of 6-1, 12-5 and 8-3.

 
FOCAL POINT

• The Bulldogs look to continue their hot streak in a pivotal SoCon series against UNCG.

 
BULLDOGS TO WATCH

• Over the last couple of weeks, second baseman Brooks Carlson has been hot at the plate. Over the last 11 games, the junior is batting .447 with a team-high 21 hits and 16 RBI. In conference play, Carlson is batting .347 with seven doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI. This past weekend he hit .500, driving in 11 runs and earning SoCon Player of the Week honors.
• Samford's probable starting rotation for this weekend will be left-handed pitcher Samuel Strickland, right-handed pitcher Jalon Long and right-handed pitcher Zach Hester. Strickland has a 4-2 record and a 4.90 ERA so far this season. Long has posted a 2-2 record and a 6.51 ERA, while Hester has a 2-3 record and a 4.95 ERA.
• Center fielder Max Pinto has had more multi-hit games than anyone on the team so far this season. Entering this weekend, he has had 16 multi-hit games, including 10 games with two hits, five with three hits and one with four hits.
• Samford's Tyler McManus currently leads the team in batting average (.340) and RBI (45), and he is tied for the team lead in doubles (10) and home runs (10). McManus also leads the squad in multi-RBI games with 13.
• Entering this weekend, Samford junior pitcher Samuel Strickland ranks second in school history in wins. Strickland currently has 22 wins. The current record holder is Josh Martin with 24 career victories.

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Samford has a record of 17-7 in Southern Conference play, sitting in first place in the Blue Division. Tyler McManus (.411 BA, 8 2Bs, 5 HRs, 28 RBI), Kaden Dreier (.378 BA, 8 2Bs, 19 RBI), Brooks Carlson (.347 BA, 7 2Bs, 3 HRs, 18 RBI) and Sonny DiChiara (.317 BA, 5 2Bs, 5 HRs, 21 RBI) have led the Bulldogs in conference play so far.
• Samford has a record of 17-5 in home games so far this season. Sonny DiChiara is hitting .338 in home contests with four doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI. Brooks Carlson is hitting .311 with 12 RBI at home, while Tyler McManus has driven in a team-high 27 runs at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
• Samford has a record of 21-3 when its opponents score five runs or less. If the opponent scored six or more runs, the team has a mark of 7-16.

 
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).