GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. NORTH ALABAMA (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team will return home to play host to the North Alabama Lions Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be seen live on ESPN+ with Blake Gardner and Parker May calling the action.
 
Samford is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Joseph Lee on the mound Tuesday. Lee has an ERA of 3.86 so far this season.
 
Samford and North Alabama have played 18 previous times, with UNA holding a 12-6 series lead. Last season, the teams played just once with Samford earning a 10-3 win at home. Samford has won five of the last six meetings.
 
Samford comes into the weekend with a record of 2-5. The Bulldogs dropped three games at No. 9 Georgia over the weekend, falling by scores of 11-1, 12-4 and 22-0.
 
Samford has been led at the plate so far this season by Jake Souders, hitting .333 (8-of-24). Luke Boykin leads the team in both home runs with four and in RBI with 12. Boykin homered twice in the weekend series at No. 9 Georgia. Souders, Trey Higgins and Charlie Bozeman each have a home run as well so far this season. Cade Carr is second on the team in RBI with four entering this week.
 
Tuesday night's game is one of 10 games on Samford's 2026 schedule against teams from the state of Alabama. Samford has games scheduled against Alabama (Feb. 17 home and Apr. 7 away), Auburn (Mar. 3 away and Apr. 21 Hoover Met), North Alabama (Feb. 24 home, May 5 away), Alabama A&M (Mar. 10 home), Jacksonville State (Mar. 17 away, Apr. 28 home) and Troy (Mar. 24 away).
 
North Alabama enters Tuesday night's game with a record of 6-2 so far this season. The Lions swept three games from St. Louis over the weekend, winning the games by scores of 7-4, 12-2 and 8-6.
 
North Alabama has been led at the plate so far this season by Nash Rippen, hitting .360 (9-for-25) with three home runs and eight RBI. Wes Walker is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with eight RBI.
 
UNA has listed right-handed pitcher Jake Boynar as its starting pitcher for Tuesday night's game. Boynar has an ERA of 108.00.
 
Tuesday's game is set for a 4 p.m. start from Joe Lee Griffin Field. The contest can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available. For links to follow Samford baseball this season, click on the following link: 2026 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).