The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Baseball Set To Host No. 13 Houston
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After spending one night calling the Hoover Met home, the UAB baseball team returns to Young Memorial Field, as it will take on the No. 13 Houston Cougars in the three-game conference tilt this weekend. The Blazers, with two wins in league play, stand only three games out of a spot in the conference tournament, and will look to make up ground against the current second-place team in Houston.
Playing a highly-ranked team will be nothing new for the Blazers, as head coach Larry Giangrosso's squad has faced off in 12 games involving squads in the top 25 nationally. UAB squared off against No. 6 Alabama on Wednesday, losing to a late-inning rally by the Crimson Tide, 14-8. The Green and Gold had won its previous two contests prior to Wednesday, winning its first conference series against UCF in Orlando, Fla., last weekend.
The Cougars enter the weekend 12-3 in conference play, with a 29-15 record overall. Houston's strength lies in its pitching staff, as it sports a 3.35 ERA on the season, with five hurlers contributing three or more wins on the year. Brad Lincoln remains the ace, as the righthander has such a dominating repertoire his name could be selected in the top five of the baseball amateur draft this summer. Lincoln is 8-1 on the season, and has a 1.82 ERA, which is third in the conference. He has 109 punchouts, and opponents are hitting just .198 off him. Saturday starter Ricky Hargrove has been solid as well, going 6-3 on the year with a 2.29 ERA.
UAB's offense scored eight runs on Wednesday against Alabama, and has put together big numbers over the past three games. The Blazers have scored 33 runs, including a 16-run outburst against UCF in the finale on Sunday. For the 2006 season, UAB is averaging just over six runs a contest, and have a team on-base percentage of .350. Phillip Bell's stick has been sizzling, as the sophomore from Gulf Breeze, Fla., is hitting .400 in his last two games (4-for-10). Donnie Muth has also been hitting a solid clip, as he has amassed a four-game hitting streak over the past week.
Friday's game is set for a 7 p.m. start, with senior Jacob Legg taking to the mound to oppose Lincoln. Saturday's contest will showcase a battle of righthanders, as Jim Crew (4-2, 2.79 ERA) will take on Hargrove at 2 p.m. The final game of the series will be Sunday at 11 a.m., and will feature left-hander Lyle Northington (2-5, 5.79 ERA) against Houston pitcher Luis Flores (3-2, 2.89 ERA).
