FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford baseball program released its 2009 schedule Thursday afternoon. The 2009 season will be Samford’s first as a member of the Southern Conference, the eighth-rated Division I baseball conference in the country.
“We are extremely excited to play our first season in the Southern Conference and visit some of the great venues in that league,” Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. “In addition we will be able to travel to the state of Florida for the first time with the tournament at Florida Gulf Coast. Our home schedule will be the most challenging in our time here. We welcome both the College of Charleston and Elon who have been the top two teams in the SoCon over the past few years and we will also bring both Alabama and Auburn to our campus.”
Samford opens the season with a three-game series at home against Kennesaw State, Feb. 20-22. Samford will then travel to Fort Myers, Fla., to participate in a tournament hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University, Feb. 26-Mar. 1. In the tournament, Samford will take on Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida, Bethune-Cookman and Boston College.
The Bulldogs will then play its first of 11 games against in-state opponents when they travel to Troy to take on the Trojans on Mar. 4.
Samford will play its first Southern Conference series, Mar. 6-8 at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The Bulldogs play host to the Wofford Terriers to open league play.
Samford will then play two midweek games against in-state foes. The Bulldogs will play host to Jacksonville State on Mar. 10, and they will play at Alabama on Mar. 11.
Next up, the Bulldogs will play a conference series at Furman, Mar. 13-15 in Greenville, S.C. Samford will then travel to Nashville, Tenn., for midweek games against Belmont (Mar. 17) and Lipscomb (Mar. 18).
The Bulldogs will then play host to College of Charleston in a three-game SoCon series at Joe Lee Griffin Field, Mar. 20-22. In midweek games that week, Samford will play host to Auburn (Mar. 24) and Belmont (Mar. 25).
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to UNC Greensboro for another SoCon series, Mar. 27-29. Samford will then take on cross-town rival UAB in two midweek games. The teams will meet Mar. 31 at UAB’s Young Memorial Field, and on Apr. 1 at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
The Bulldogs will then welcome the Davidson Wildcats for a three-game SoCon series in Birmingham, Apr. 3-5. In midweek games that week, Samford will play at Jacksonville State (Apr. 7), and play host to Troy (Apr. 8).
Samford will then travel to Boone, N.C., to take on Appalachian State in another conference series, Apr. 10-12. The Bulldogs will play host to Georgia State (Apr. 14) and Alabama (Apr. 15) in midweek games.
The Bulldogs will play a SoCon series at Western Carolina, Apr. 17-19. Samford will play host to Auburn on Apr. 21 at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
Samford will return home to play host to defending SoCon champion Elon in a three-game series, Apr. 24-26. The Bulldogs will play host to Alabama A&M in a non-conference game on Apr. 29.
Samford will travel to Charleston, S.C., to take on The Citadel in a three-game SoCon series, May 1-3. The Bulldogs will play their final non-conference game on May 5 when they play at Georgia State.
Samford will wrap up the 2009 regular season with a three-game SoCon series at Georgia Southern, May 9-10. The Southern Conference Baseball Tournament is scheduled for May 20-24 in Greenville, S.C.
