April 11, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team will play host to Austin Peay in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday, also at 1 p.m.

Samford enters this weekend's series with a record of 18-11 overall and 6-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play after splitting its two midweek games, defeating Troy Tuesday night, and falling at UAB Wednesday evening.

Samford is led at the plate by Michael Marseco, batting .397 with 46 hits and 28 RBI. Michael Rutledge is batting .361 with a team-high 31 RBI. Samford is scheduled to start Jonathan Stephens (4-0, 2.42 ERA), Trent Hill (3-2, 4.15 ERA) and Michael Jarry (1-2, 5.58 ERA) on the mound in the three games. Austin Peay is currently 15-15 overall and 5-4 in OVC play after dropping midweek games at Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Rafael Hill (.387) leads APSU at the plate. Matt Cole (.351, 25 RBI) and Tyler Farrar (.330, 38 RBI) are also having strong seasons for the Governors. Stephen Huff (3-3, 2.88 ERA), David Vicini (0-2, 4.76 ERA) and Ryne Mantooth (4-2, 5.05 ERA) are scheduled to start on the mound for the Governors.

Since joining the OVC prior to the 2004 season, Samford has a record of 7-7 against Austin Peay. Last season, Samford won two of three regular-season games at Austin Peay. The teams also met in the OVC Tournament, with the eventual champion Governors winning, 5-1. Under head coach Casey Dunn, Samford has a record of 6-4 against the Governors.

All three games can be heard locally on WVSU-FM 91.1, or worldwide on the internet at www.samford.edu/groups/wvsu/.