April 11, 2003

Samford hits the road Saturday and Sunday for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference Series at Atlantic Sun Newcomer Gardner-Webb. Saturday's doubleheader is set to start at 11 a.m. (CST). Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. (CST). The series was pushed back one day due to inclimate weather in Boiling Springs, N.C. Fans will not be able to follow live game action via gametracker, but can find the full game recap and box scores at samfordsports.com following the game.

The Bulldogs (9-23, 4-14 A-Sun) are coming off their first A-Sun series win last weekend. Samford swept the doubleheader from Troy State last weekend, 9-8 in 10 innings and 5-1 to take the series from the Trojans. Junior catcher Eric Hollis' walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th lifted the Bulldogs in game one. Senior right-hander Ehren Wassermann picked up both wins. Wassermann came on in relief in the first game and held the Trojans to three hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He started the second game and allowed only one earned run on five hits while striking out three. Wassermann earned A-Sun Co-Pitcher-of-the-Week honors Monday as well as CollegeBaseballInsider.com National Player-of-the-Week after picking up three win last week. He allowed one earned run in 17 2/3 innings and recorded 15 strikeouts.

Gardner-Webb (20-14, 10-8 A-Sun) dropped all three of its games last weekend to Jacksonville State, 9-0, 5-3 and 5-4. GWU currently is in a fifth place tie with Stetson in A-Sun standings. On the season, the Runnin' Bulldogs are hitting .282 as a team with a team ERA of 4.73. Jonathan McKoy leads the team with a .340 batting average. Sam Bradford is hitting .333 with seven doubles and seven home runs. Clint Abernathy also has seven homers on the season. Jeff Long anchors the pitching staff with a 3.08 ERA.

Alan Bryan (0-4, 7.67 ERA) will get the start in the first game while Stephen Artz (0-4, 5.24 ERA) will start game two. Gardner-Webb will counter with left-hander Joey Siak (5-2, 5.13 ERA) and right-hander Jeff Long (4-3, 3.08 ERA). Either Abe Gonzalez (2-3, 4.65 ERA) or Josh Martin (4-4, 4.72 ERA will start the final game of the series.

Samford and Gardner-Webb meet for the first time under Tim Parenton.

The Bulldogs continue their road trip next week. Samford heads to Southeastern Conference member Mississippi State Wednesday to face Parenton's alma mater. The Bulldogs wrap up their road trip next weekend at Jacksonville State.