The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Opens C-USA Play At Memphis This Weekend
3/20/2008 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
March 20, 2008
Gameday Central
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team will have revenge on its mind this weekend when it travels to Memphis to open Conference USA play against the Tigers who swept the Blazers at Young Memorial Field last season. UAB and Memphis finished in a tie for fourth in the Conference USA standings in 2007.
The series gets underway Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium with game two of the series slated for Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The series will conclude Sunday at 1:00 p.m. All three games can be followed live on Gametracker at UABsports.com.
UAB enters the weekend series with a record of 6-10 having lost three straight. Right-hander Mitch Kloskowski (2-1) will begin the series on the mound for UAB Friday night as he goes up against UofM right-hander Scott McGregor (0-2). Kloskowski owns a 2.01 ERA this season and has struck out 19 batters, while walking just three. McGregor, though in search of his first win, has a 4.78 ERA and has struck out 21 batters and walked just two.
On Saturday, right-hander Brandon Wallace (1-0) will get the start for UAB and will be opposed by right-hander Will Hudgens (0-2), who will be making just his second start of the season. Wallace holds a staff-best 1.86 ERA and has issued just three walks this season, while Hudgens boasts a 5.60 ERA and has 16 strikeouts on the campaign.
Neither team has announced its Sunday starter.
First baseman Ryan Keedy leads the Blazer offense and will look to change his fortune against the Tigers this weekend after going 2-for-11 against them last season. On the year, Keedy is batting .460 with 20 RBI and 11 doubles. Keedy rides a 10-game hitting streak into the weekend.
Left fielder Phil Bell has had success against the Tigers in his eight career games against the club, totaling 10 hits and six RBI. Bell is hitting .354 with two home runs and 12 RBI this season.
Blazer shortstop Jonathan Merritt will also look to stay hot this weekend after having a career-game against Mississippi State on Tuesday. Against the Bulldogs, Merritt was 5-for-6 with two home runs, three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases.
Memphis enters this weekend's series with a record of 8-10 after beating Samford, 18-9, on Tuesday.
The Tigers have had to deal with losing five of their starting position players from their 2007 Regional team.
First baseman/outfielder Trey Wiedman has stepped in and carried much of the team's offensive load this season, hitting .383 with five home runs and 16 RBI. Infielder Brett Bowen, a transfer from Pensacola Community College, has also posted strong numbers at the plate as he is batting .293 with a home run and 14 RBI.
Center fielder K.K. Chalmers, a Preseason All-Conference USA selection, has had struggles swinging the bat thus far, hitting .231 with seven RBI, while imposing his speed to steal 10 bases.
Memphis is coached by Daron Shoenrock, a former assistant coach under Brian Shoop at Birmingham-Southern from 1990-97.
