SAMFORD BASEBALL GAME NOTES (PDF)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The second-seeded Samford baseball team will open play in the 2021 Southern Conference Tournament by taking on third-seeded Mercer Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT) at Fluor Field.
 
Samford enters the tournament with a record of 32-22 overall and 20-10 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs dropped two-of-three games at ETSU last weekend. Mercer has a mark of 35-20 overall and 18-9 in league play. The Bears fell in two-of-three games at Wofford last weekend.
 
THE RUN DOWN
Opponent: vs. Mercer (35-20, 18-9 SoCon)
Dates: May 27, 2021
Site: Greenville, S.C. (Fluor Field)
Time: 6 p.m. CT
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SERIES HISTORY

• Samford and Mercer have played 84 previous times, with Mercer holding a 46-38 series lead.
• The teams met in a three-game series at Joe Lee Griffin Field earlier this season. Samford took the first game of the series, 10-9, but Mercer bounced back to take the final two games by scores of 12-5 and 5-4.
• This marks the seventh time Samford and Mercer have met in the SoCon Tournament, with Samford owning a 4-2 advantage in the previous six meetings.

 
FOCAL POINT

• The Southern Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament is on the line in the four-team event, with Samford, Mercer, Wofford and Western Carolina vying for the title.  

 
BULLDOGS TO WATCH

• Samford's starting pitcher for Thursday night's game is scheduled to be left-hander Samuel Strickland. Strickland enters the tournament with a record of 5-3 and a 4.92 ERA. He has recorded 65 strikeouts, while allowing just 12 walks.
• Samford first baseman Sonny DiChiara currently ranks tied for 14th in the nation in walks with 45 so far this season. He also ranks tied for 29th in the country in walks per game at 0.88, and is tied for 32nd nationally in home runs with 14.
• Samford's Tyler McManus currently leads the team in batting average (.327) and RBI (48), and he is tied for the team lead in doubles (12) and is tied for second on the squad in home runs (11). McManus also leads the squad in multi-RBI games with 14.
• 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 18 multi-hit games, including 12 with two hits, five with three hits and one with four hits.
• Over the last few weeks, second baseman Brooks Carlson has been hot at the plate. Over the last 18 games, the junior is batting .400 with a team-high 30 hits and 21 RBI. In conference play, Carlson is batting .333 with eight doubles, four home runs and 22 RBI.

 
NEWS & NOTES

• Three Samford players earned SoCon honors when the league released its postseason awards Tuesday afternoon. First baseman Sonny DiChiara and designated hitter Tyler McManus were both named to the second team, while closer Chase Isbell earned All-Freshman team honors.
• Since joining the conference prior to the 2009 season, Samford has an all-time record of 25-14 in SoCon Tournament games. Samford has won two tournament titles, the first in 2012 and again in 2018.
• Samford's record against each team in the SoCon Tournament is: Appalachian State (3-1), Davidson (1-0), ETSU (1-1), Elon (0-2), Furman (5-0), Georgia Southern (1-2), Mercer (4-2), UNCG (1-1), Western Carolina (4-3) and Wofford (5-2).
• Samford has a record of 12-16 when playing away from home so far this season. Tyler McManus leads the team with a .368 batting average in road contests. Ryan Crockett leads the team on the road in home runs with seven and in RBI with 24, to go along with his .315 batting average away from Joe Lee Griffin Field.

 
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).