GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. ETSU (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team will play host to ETSU in a three-game SoCon series, Thursday through Saturday. The teams are scheduled to play Thursday at 6 p.m., Friday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Samford and ETSU have met 39 previous times, with ETSU holding a slight 20-19 series lead. Last season, ETSU won two of the three regular-season games, and the Bucs defeated the Bulldogs twice in the SoCon Tournament.
 
Samford is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Joseph Lee (1-0, 3.51 ERA), right-handed pitcher Mason Blasche (1-5, 7.09 ERA) and right hander Noah Berry (2-1, 1.96 ERA) on the mound in the series.
 
Samford comes into the series with a record of 13-14 overall and 1-2 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs earned a 16-1, seven-inning win at West Georgia Tuesday evening.
 
Samford senior third baseman Parker McDonald was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week on Monday. In four games last week, McDonald hit .615 (8-for-13) with four doubles, a home run and four RBI.
 
Samford has been led at the plate so far this season by Jake Souders, hitting .404 (40-of-99) with seven home runs and 19 RBI. Souders, Trey Higgins and Luke Boykin share the team lead in home runs with seven each. Boykin holds the team lead in RBI with 28 so far this season. Gus Gandy is hitting .337 (33-for-98) with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI. Higgins is hitting .313 (26-of-83) with seven homers and 19 RBI.
 
ETSU comes into the series with a mark of 19-7 overall and 4-2 in Southern Conference play. Last weekend, the Bucs won two-of-three games from VMI. ETSU won the first two games, 6-5 and 4-3, before dropping the third game by a score of 5-4.
 
ETSU has listed right-handed pitcher Stratton Scott (2-1, 4.00 ERA), left-handed pitcher Tadan Bell (3-2, 4.54 ERA) and right-hander Michael Harpster (4-1, 3.19 ERA) as its starting pitchers for the series.
 
The Bucs have been led at the plate so far this season by Henry Ferguson, batting .387 (36-of-93) with five doubles, one home run and 25 RBI. Tristan Curless leads ETSU in home runs with 11 and in RBI with 36.
 
All three games can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available as well. For links to follow all of Samford's games 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).