SOCON TOURNAMENT NOTES

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Samford University baseball team will open play in the Southern Conference Tournament Friday at 11:30 a.m. (CT) at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. Samford will play either The Citadel, UNC Greensboro or Wofford.
 
Samford and The Citadel have met 45 previous times, with Samford holding a 32-13 series lead after winning two-of-three this season. Samford and UNCG have 55 previous meetings, with Samford owning a 35-20 lead after sweeping the series this season. Samford and Wofford have played 57 times, with Samford leading, 31-26. The Bulldogs swept the series with Wofford this season.
 
Samford enters the week with a record of 28-25 overall and 13-8 in SoCon play. Last weekend, the Bulldogs dropped two-of-three games at Mercer. Samford is scheduled to start left-handed pitcher Miller Riggins (4-2, 4.24 ERA) in Friday's game.
 
Jeffrey Ince currently leads Samford in hitting with a .338 (69-for-204) average with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 33 RBI. Michael Gupton is hitting .331 (60-for-181) with nine doubles, 14 home runs and 46 RBI. Jake Souders is hitting .329 (68-for-207) with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBI. Cade Carr has a .325 (64-for-197) average with 14 doubles, eight home runs and a team-high 56 RBI. Jackson Harris is currently hitting .325 (64-for-197) with 14 doubles, five home runs and 44 RBI. Parker McDonald is hitting .291 (52-for-179) with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 45 RBI.
 
Since joining the Southern Conference prior to the 2009 season, Samford has an all-time record of 36-19 in SoCon Tournament games. Samford has won four tournament titles, winning the event in 2012, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
 
Samford has reached the finals in eight of the 14 SoCon Tournaments in which the Bulldogs have played. Samford has a record of 4-4 in SoCon Tournament championship games.
 
Samford's record against each team in the SoCon Tournament is: Appalachian State (3-1), Davidson (1-0), ETSU (2-1), Elon (0-2), Furman (5-0), Georgia Southern (1-2), Mercer (7-2), UNCG (2-2), Western Carolina (7-3) and Wofford (8-6).
 
The Citadel enters the tournament with a mark of 30-24 overall and 12-9 in Southern Conference play. The Citadel won two-of-three games from regular-season champion ETSU last weekend.
 
Wofford has a record of 31-25 overall and 8-13 in league play. The Terriers won two-of-three games from VMI last weekend.
 
UNC Greensboro is currently 21-32 overall and 9-12 in SoCon play. The Spartans lost two-of-three games to Western Carolina over the weekend.
 
All SoCon Tournament games can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available. To follow all SoCon Tournament games, click on the following link: TOURNAMENT CENTRAL.
 
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