GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. LONGWOOD (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University baseball team will step out of SoCon play to host Longwood in a three-game series this weekend at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams are set to play a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. and a single game Saturday, also at 1 p.m. Games two and three of the series can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
Samford will start right-handed pitcher Michael Ross (5-0, 3.28 ERA) in game one, right-hander Alex Flood (0-0, 3.65 ERA) in game two and righty Brooks Rice (3-2, 5.46 ERA) in game three. Longwood has listed left-handed pitcher Ethan Walker (1-1, 3.60 ERA), left-hander Sean Gibbons (0-0, 5.40 ERA) and right-hander Brenton Fisher (1-2, 2.75 ERA) as its starters on the mound.
 
Samford and Longwood have met three previous times, with Samford owning a 2-1 series lead. The teams met in a three-game series in 2006, with Samford winning two-of-three games at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Samford has a record of 16-8 overall and 3-0 in SoCon play. Earlier this week, Samford dropped a 9-5, 10-inning game to No. 17 Mississippi State.
 
So far this season, Samford has been led at the plate by Garrett Howe, batting .460 (40-of-87) with nine doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI. John Anderson is hitting .418 (33-of-79) with seven doubles, six home runs and 26 RBI.
 
As a team, Samford currently leads the Southern Conference in home runs with 41 and ranks second in batting average at .321. Individually, Howe leads the SoCon in batting average (.460), hits (40) and runs scored (36) and ranks second in the SoCon in doubles (9) and on-base percentage (.579). Anderson is fourth in the league in batting average (.418) and slugging percentage (.759) and fifth in on-base percentage (534).
 
Longwood has a record of 12-13 overall and 2-4 in Big South Conference play. The Lancers most recently defeated Norfolk State, 8-6, Tuesday night.
 
Longwood has been led so far this season by Noah Campanelli, batting .410 (32-of-78) with three doubles, two triples, a home run and 17 RBI. Willie Havens leads the team in home runs with three and in RBI with 21.
 
The second and third games of the series can be seen live online via ESPN+. Fans can also follow all three games online via live stats. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: BASEBALL SCHEDULE.
 
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