The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Opens Season At Young Memorial Field
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB baseball team will open up its 2006 slate at home, as it faces off against the Ball State Cardinals in a three-game set this weekend.
"It's been a long fall," said head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We open up with a very tough Ball State club. They are really good team, and they were 38-18 last year. They are a solid team. A lot of times we feel like we have an edge over the northern teams, but over the years they have worked pretty hard indoors and they have a great work plan. They will be able to pitch and hit and we will be tested."
The Blazers enter the season with high expectations after winning 31 games and qualifying for their second consecutive Conference USA Tournament last year. The Blazers won 14 conference contests in 2005, the team's highest total since Giangrosso took over as head coach in 2000. UAB also picked up victories over Southeastern Conference powerhouses Alabama and second-ranked LSU en route to its most overall wins in eight years.
The Cardinals and Blazers have a short history, playing in only six games with the series tied at 3-3. The Blazers swept Ball State two seasons ago, with the Cardinals returning the favor last year.
This matchup will be the first of many at Young Memorial Field for the Blazers to start the 2006 season. UAB will have 19 of its first 25 games at home, and will have only one weekend away from Young Memorial until April. This could be a formula for success, as UAB is 376-236-1 (.613) all-time at Young Memorial Field.
Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m., and you can find complete coverage at www.uabsports.com.
