GAME NOTES--SAMFORD AT UNCG (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University baseball team will play a pivotal Southern Conference series at UNC Greensboro this weekend. The teams are set to play Friday at 5 p.m. (CT), Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) and Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT).
 
Samford enters the series with a record of 32-16 overall and the Bulldogs are in first place in the SoCon standings with a 12-3 league record. UNC Greensboro is 29-17 overall and the Spartans sit in second place in the SoCon with a 13-5 conference mark.
 
Samford and UNC Greensboro have met 49 previous times, with Samford owning a 31-18 series lead. Last season Samford won two of the three regular season meetings, and the Bulldogs earned a 9-5 win over the Spartans in the SoCon Tournament.
 
Samford will start right-handed pitcher Michael Ross (10-0, 2.54 ERA) Friday and right-hander Noah Berry (0-0, 6.60 ERA) Saturday. Samford has not named a starter for Sunday's game yet. UNCG is set to start right-handed pitcher Hunter Shuey (6-0, 3.00 ERA) on Friday, right-hander Rob Ready (3-1, 3.95 ERA) on Saturday and righty Julien Peissel (2-2, 5.30 ERA) in Sunday's series finale.
 
The Bulldogs won two-of-three games from Mercer last weekend, winning game one (9-1) and game three (12-5) and falling in game two (20-15). In the midweek, Samford earned a 12-3 win over North Alabama Tuesday evening at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
So far this season, Samford has been led at the plate by Garrett Howe, batting .389 with 15 doubles, eight home runs and 42 RBI. John Anderson is hitting .382 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs and a team-high 57 RBI. Andrew Bennett is batting .361 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI. Garrett Staton is hitting .322 with 16 doubles, a team-high 16 home runs and 55 RBI.
 
As a team, Samford currently leads the SoCon in home runs with 80 and ranks third in batting average at .315. Individually, Ross leads the league in ERA (2.54), wins (10) and fewest runs allowed (22). Howe leads the SoCon in runs scored (65), and he ranks second in the league in hits (72) and third in batting average (.389). Anderson leads the SoCon in doubles (17), while Staton ranks second in at bats (202).
 
The Spartans dropped a 15-9 decision at Coastal Carolina Tuesday night. Last weekend, UNCG swept its SoCon series at The Citadel, winning by scores of 6-2, 8-5 in 11 innings and 4-1.
 
UNC Greensboro has been led at the plate so far this season by Calen Cozart, batting .356 with nine doubles, 22 home runs and 71 RBI. He leads the SoCon in both home runs and RBI. C.C. Jarman is hitting .331 with six doubles and 22 RBI. Jake Ogden is batting .321 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 38 RBI.
 
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).