The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB's 2003 Baseball Schedule Announced
9/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 19, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB has released its 2003 baseball schedule, head coach Larry Giangrosso announced Thursday. The Blazers will face six NCAA Tournament teams from the 2002 season and will also square off against six in-state teams.
The Blazers open the season at Alabama State in Montgomery Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. UAB's home opener features a three-game series against Mississippi Valley State, beginning Feb. 14 at Young Memorial Field at 6 p.m.
UAB will meet four schools from the Southeastern Conference in 2003. The Blazers have a home and away game with Auburn, who was an NCAA Tournament participant in 2002, and Alabama, who also advanced to the 2002 NCAA Tournament and finished the season ranked 13th in the Baseball America top 25 poll. UAB faces Alabama at Young Memorial Field March 26 at 7 p.m. and travels to Tuscaloosa for a 6:30 p.m. matchup April 23. The Blazers square off against Auburn April 8 at 7 p.m. at Young Memorial Field and travel to Auburn April 15 for a 6 p.m. start. In addition, UAB will face Kentucky at Young Memorial Field March 2 at 2 p.m. and takes on Mississippi State March 4 at 6 p.m. at Young Memorial Field. UAB also travels to Starkville, Miss. to take on the Bulldogs April 1 at 6:30 p.m.
The Blazers' Conference USA schedule features games against 2002 NCAA Tournament participants South Florida (March 21-23 in Tampa, Fla.), Houston, who finished the season ranked 10th in Baseball America, (April 4-6 in Houston), Tulane (April 18-20 in New Orleans), and East Carolina (May 9-11 in Greenville, N.C.). UAB will take on Cincinnati in its first C-USA series of the season March 14-16 at Young Memorial Field.
"We try to build a good schedule so we can bring in good teams for our fans and also help us with our competition level," said Giangrosso. "Playing SEC schools like Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and Kentucky is just a great opportunity for us. We have some great teams within our conference and we also have some great in-state teams on our schedule, so all in all, it is a very well-rounded schedule. Our schedule is such that it is competitive every time out, so it's a schedule that gives you a great opportunity if you are playing well."
Other in-state opponents for the Blazers in 2003 include Samford, Birmingham-Southern and Jacksonville State.
