The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Ready For Showdown With Alabama
2/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 22, 2005
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After sweeping a three-game series from Central Michigan last weekend, the Blazers (3-0) welcome in-state rival Alabama to Birmingham on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game at Young Memorial Field. Tickets for all seats will be on sale for $8. UAB students will be admitted free with a valid ID. The Crimson Tide (5-2) swept UNC Asheville last weekend in Tuscaloosa and has won six straight games against UAB dating back to the 2002 season. The Blazers will send junior righthander Randy Mills to the mound against Alabama's Casey Kebodeaux.
"We're very excited and this will be a good test for us," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Its always fun to play a team from the SEC, especially one with such great tradition as Alabama. We've played some great games against them in the past and we hope this one will be the same."
UAB opened the 2005 season in grand fashion last weekend against Central Michigan. Behind an outstanding pitching performance from senior Adam Price, UAB cruised past the Chippewas, 7-2, in the season opener on Friday evening. Price went seven shutout innings while striking out five batters.
Due to expected inclement weather in the area on Sunday, the teams wrapped up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. The Blazers rebounded from an early deficit and escaped with a 6-5 victory in game one before finishing off the series sweep with a 7-2 win in the finale. After starting the first two games of the series in right field, UAB senior Cole Helms got the start on the mound in game three and picked up the win with a career-high six innings of shutout work.
The Crimson Tide is led offensively by senior outfielder Morrow Thomley who is batting .417 with five RBIs and four stolen bases in four attempts so far this season. Kebodeaux, a freshman righthander, will be making his first career start on Wednesday.
