Games 17-19: Jacksonville (11-5) at Samford (10-7)
Birmingham, Ala. – Joe Lee Griffin Field

Game 17: Friday 7:00 p.m. ET 

Game 18: Saturday 3:00 p.m. ET

Game 19: Sunday 2:00 p.m. ET

Radio: www.mixlr.com/judolphins (Nolan Alexander)

Twitter: @JUBaseball

Series Record vs. SU: JU leads, 19-4                                        

Probables  

G17: Jared Brasher (1-3, 2.70 ERA)      Michael Baumann (2-0, 2.35 ERA)

G18: Tristan Widra (2-0, 4.60 ERA)       Nathan Disch (2-1, 2.08 ERA)

G19: Connor Radcliff (1-2, 6.75 ERA)    Spencer Stockton (2-0, 2.04 ERA)

Previously…

Jacksonville blasted four home runs to score six runs over the seventh and eighth innings in a 10-5 triumph against FIU Wednesday at Sessions Stadium. Franco Guardascione's three-run shot over the left field wall came on the following pitch after the FIU infield misplayed a foul popup. His game-winning shot was set up by singles from Parker Perez and Austin Hays.

Jacksonville added two more round-trippers in the eighth on a two-run homer by Perez off the scoreboard in right and a solo shot by Hays to left.

Schappell (1-1) garnered the win with two hits on four innings, no walks, and three strikeouts.

Jacksonville continued its trend of scoring first with two runs in the first. The Dolphins have scored first in every game but one. Hays belted his team-leading fifth homer of the season for Jacksonville's first run. Connor Stephens doubled to the left field gap, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and crossed home on a JJ Gould groundout to third.

Casey Kulina pitched 2.1 innings in his Jacksonville debut and a pre-determined start. He allowed three hits, a run, a walk, and three strikeouts.

The Dolphins totaled 13 hits and were led by the three hits of Hays. Perez, Ricci, and Julylia each tallied two hits.

Scouting The Opponent      

Samford is coming off a 32-26 campaign that saw the Bulldogs finish second in the SoCon. Samford scored an 18-7 victory Tuesday against in-state foe Alabama State to mark the ninth time this season Samford has posted double figures in runs. Samford is 7-3 at home and has not lost a home contest since Feb. 27.

The Bulldogs boast a powerful offense with a +67 run differential. A veteran team, Samford returns all nine position starters and two starting pitchers from last year and owns a seven players on the preseason all-SoCon teams.

Jacksonville took two of three at home last season.

Tweetable #FinFacts

·   Jacksonville has scored first in 15 of 16 games and is outscoring opponents 101-63 this season

·   The Dolphins lead the A-Sun a .487 slugging percentage, five triples, 63 runs and 134 hits allowed, and is second with a .973 fielding %

·   JU has three of the top five batters in the A-Sun- Austin Hays (.431), Parker Perez (.398), and JJ Gould (.380). Hays leads the A-Sun with 6 HR

·   JJ Gould has a 18-game on-base streak dating back to 2015, and Hays' streak stands at eight games. Parker Perez has tallied 10 multi-hit games

·   Jacksonville's 11 wins are tied for most in the A-Sun with North Florida, but the Ospreys have played three more games than the Dolphins

·   This weekend's games can be heard on mixlr.com/judolphins