GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. MERCER (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team will play host to Mercer in a SoCon series, with games scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. All three games can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
Samford and Mercer have met 111 previous times, with Mercer holding a 56-55 series lead. Last season, Samford swept a three-game series at Mercer, winning the games by scores of 5-4, 12-11 and 14-8. Samford has won seven of the last eight games in the series.
 
Samford will start right-handed pitcher Michael Ross (9-0, 2.67 ERA) on Friday and right-hander Noah Berry (0-0, 5.84 ERA) on Saturday. Samford has not named a starter for Sunday's contest yet.
 
Mercer has listed left-handed pitcher Colton Cosper (5-1, 3.86 ERA) as its Friday starter and lefty Jess Ackerman (4-3, 5.33 ERA) to start on Saturday. The Bears have yet to name a Sunday starter.
 
Samford has a record of 29-15 overall and 10-2 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs won a 19-10 slugfest at North Alabama Wednesday night. Last weekend, the Bulldogs won two-of-three games from Liberty.  
 
So far this season, Samford has been led at the plate by John Anderson, batting .400 with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBI. Garrett Howe is hitting .376 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 36 RBI. Andrew Bennett has a .373 batting average with 10 doubles, five home runs and 31 RBI. Bennett has currently reached base in 36-straight games, the fourth-longest streak in program history. Garrett Staton leads the team in home runs with 15.
 
As a team, Samford currently leads the SoCon in home runs with 74 and ranks third in the league in batting average at .311. Individually, Ross leads the league in ERA (2.67), wins (9) and opposing batting average (.218). Anderson leads the SoCon in batting average, hitting .400 so far this season.
 
Mercer enters the weekend with a record of 23-20 overall and 4-7 in Southern Conference play. The Bears dropped a 14-11 decision to Georgia State Wednesday evening. Last weekend, Mercer won two-of-three games in a series at High Point.
 
Mercer has been led so far this season by Parker Lester, batting .319 with 12 doubles, nine home runs and 30 RBI. Conner Todaro is batting .305, while Jackson Terry leads the team in home runs with 15 and Ty Dalley is the team leader in RBI with 46.
 
All three games can be seen live on ESPN+, and 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.
 
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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).