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.

 
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).