GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. ETSU (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team will play host to the ETSU Bucs in a three-game Southern Conference series this weekend at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams are set to play Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
Samford and ETSU have met 31 previous times, with Samford owning a 16-15 series lead. Last season, Samford won two-of-three regular-season games, and the Bulldogs earned a 2-1 win over the Bucs in the SoCon Tournament.
 
Samford will start right-handed pitcher Michael Ross (7-0, 2.66 ERA) on Friday, right-hander Brooks Rice (4-3, 4.91 ERA) on Saturday and the Bulldogs have not listed a starter for Sunday yet. ETSU has named right-handed pitchers Carter Fink (3-0, 5.56 ERA), Andrew Ronne (4-2, 6.14 ERA) and Michael Harpster (5-1, 4.81 ERA) as its starters.
 
Samford has a record of 22-10 overall and 6-0 in SoCon play. Tuesday night, Samford earned a 9-7 win over 10th-ranked Kentucky. The team swept The Citadel last weekend.
 
So far this season, Samford has been led at the plate by John Anderson, batting .429 with nine doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBI. Garrett Howe is hitting 422 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI. Dating back to last season, Howe has currently reached base in 33-consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history.
 
As a team, Samford currently leads the Southern Conference in home runs with 49 and ranks third in batting average at .316. Individually, Anderson leads the SoCon in batting average (.429), while Howe ranks third in the league (.422). Howe also leads the SoCon runs scored (47) and walks (32) and ranks second in on-base percentage (.558).
 
ETSU enters the series with a record of 20-10 overall and 5-4 in Southern Conference play. ETSU won two-of-three games from Mercer last weekend.
 
The Bucs have been led this season by Nick Iannantone, batting .426 with eight doubles, two home runs and 23 RBI. Cody Miller is hitting .385 with six doubles, one home run and 24 RBI, while Cemeron Sisneros is batting .375 with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 43 RBI.
 
All three games can be seen live online via ESPN+. Fans can also follow the games online via live stats. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: BASEBALL SCHEDULE.
 
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).