Baseball Travels To Western Carolina For SoCon Series

Thursday, April 14

Cullowhee, N.C.

4 PM

Samford University

Western Carolina

Photo by: Chase Cochran | Samford Athletic

Baseball Travels To Western Carolina For SoCon Series

4.13.22 | Baseball

GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. WESTERN CAROLINA (PDF)
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CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Samford University baseball team (15-15, 2-1 SoCon) will play at Western Carolina (14-18, 0-3 SoCon) in a three-game SoCon series beginning Thursday. The teams are set to play Thursday at 4 p.m. (CT), Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) and Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT). The first and third games can be seen live on ESPN+.

Samford enters the week with a mark of 15-15 overall and 2-1 in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs won two-of-three games from VMI over the weekend. Samford dropped its lone midweek game at 17th-ranked Auburn.
Western Carolina has a record of 14-18 overall and 0-3 in league play. The Catamounts were swept in a three-game series at ETSU last weekend.
Samford is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Jacob Cravey (0-2, 3.70 ERA) Thursday, right-hander Michael Ross (3-0, 3.34 ERA) Friday and right-hander Jalon Long (2-3, 6.15 ERA) Saturday.
Western Carolina will start right-handers Zach Franklin (1-1, 2.25 ERA) Thursday, Gavin Mortenson (2-4, 4.74 ERA) Friday and Zebby Matthews (1-5, 5.32 ERA) Saturday.
Samford and Western Carolina have met 45 previous times, with Samford holding a 26-19 all-time series lead. Last season, Western Carolina won two-of-three in the regular season series, but the teams met twice in the SoCon Tournament, with Samford winning both meetings, including a dramatic 8-6, walk-off win in the championship game.
Samford has made a habit of winning close games so far this season. The Bulldogs are 9-4 in games decided by three runs or less.
Stephen Klein leads Samford with a .356 average, seven doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI. Kaden Dreier leads the squad in RBI with 26 and he is tied for first in homers with six.
Western Carolina is led by Immanuel Wilder, batting .367. Pascanel Ferraras leads the team in RBI with 29.
Samford is currently tied for first in the Southern Conference in fielding percentage. The Bulldogs have a team fielding percentage of .974.
Samford and Western Carolina last met on May 30, 2021 in the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament. Samford's Towns King and Max Pinto both hit two-run homers in the bottom of the ninth inning as Samford came back for an 8-6 win to capture the SoCon Tournament title.

NEXT UP

Samford will host in-state rival Jacksonville State in a midweek game on Tuesday, April 19. The game is set for a 6 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field.

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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).