April 4, 2003

Samford enters its fifth Atlantic Sun Conference series when the Bulldogs host Troy State this weekend. Friday's first-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. while Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. Fans can follow game action via gametracker at www.samfordsports.com.

The Bulldogs (7-22, 2-13 A-Sun) find themselves eight games out of sixth place with six conference series (18 games) remaining. Samford snapped a 10-game losing streak on the road Wednesday when it knocked off Alabama A&M, 6-4 and 9-0. Justin Klinger went 2-for-3 with two RBI in game one and senior right-hander Ehren Wassermann pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out a career-high nine batters. Wassermann (2-5) picked up his first career shutout allowing four hits in 27 batters faced. Eric Hollis led Samford going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Matt Alling, Sae Evans and Joe Denson each had two hits. Heading into the Troy State series, Samford is hitting .263 as a team with a 6.66 team ERA.

Troy State(17-12, 7-5 A-Sun) currently is in sixth place in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings after sweeping a doubleheader from Georgia State last weekend. However, the Trojans are coming off a 13-2 loss in Montgomery Wednesday night to No. 6 Auburn. Casey O'Quinn led TSU going 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI. Thus far in conference play, the Trojans have won three of their four conference series. TSU have taken series from Jacksonville, Mercer and GSU while dropping two of three games to Stetson. As a team, the Trojans are hitting .270 with a 3.81 team ERA.

Freshman right-hander Stephen Artz (0-3, 5.17 ERA) will start Friday's game with Troy State countering with junior right-hander Eric Wikstrom (2-2, 4.71). Alan Bryan (0-4, 7.83 ERA) will start the first game Saturday. Right-handers Justin Eason (2-1, 2.55 ERA) and Mal Winters (2-2, 2.60 ERA) round out the rest of the TSU weekend rotation.

Last Time at Troy State, Drew Miller went 5-for-7 with two RBI and Justin Eason threw his second consecutive four-hit, complete game as Troy State swept the doubleheader from Samford, 7-6 and 10-1, at Riddle-Pace Field. Troy State's Wade Miller's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference as the Trojans defeated Samford 7-6, in the third game to sweep the series.

Samford is 7-11 against Troy State under Tim Parenton. The Trojans swept last season's series, 7-6, 10-1 and 7-6.

Samford heads to Boiling Springs, N.C. next weekend to take on Atlantic Sun newcomer Gardner-Webb.