The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Back In Birmingham For Series With Western Illinois
3/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2010
Game Notes 
| Friday Gametracker | Watch Live
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After playing four games last weekend in San Diego, Calif., the UAB baseball team returns to Young Memorial Field for eight of its next nine contests, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT with game one of a three-game series against Western Illinois.
This weekend's series, in addition to Tuesday's upcoming game at Kennesaw State, will provide the Blazers' final tuneup for Conference USA play, which gets underway the next weekend.
Following Friday's series opener, UAB and Western Illinois are slated to meet again Saturday in a split doubleheader since a forecast for inclement weather later in the weekend has forced Sunday's series finale to be moved up. Saturday's game one is slated for Noon CT with game two scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Blazers (7-7) are looking to rebound from a tough weekend at the San Diego State Invitational, where UAB dropped games to the host Aztecs, San Diego, San Francisco and Cal State Fullerton. First baseman Luke Stewart was named to the all-tournament team at the event after hitting .417 with one home run and four RBI over the four games.
Freshman John Frost tops UAB with a .360 batting average. Shortstop Jonathan Merritt owns 15 RBI and six stolen bases for a Blazer team that is 7-2 at home this season. The Blazer pitching staff enters the series with a 5.33 team ERA, 103 strikeouts and 54 walks.
UAB will send right-hander Mitch Kloskowski (1-1, 2.70 ERA) to the mound in Friday's series opener to go against righty Randon Lingle (1-2, 7.27 ERA) for Western Illinois.
Western Illinois (4-8) is coming off a pair of midweek losses at Oklahoma State by scores of 19-7 and 6-3. After starting the year 3-1, the Leathernecks have lost seven of their past eight. They are in the midst of a 20-game road stretch to start the season.
Tom Lilja owns a team-best .450 batting average for the Leathernecks and joins Dan Dispensa and Bryan Jordan as team leaders with 10 RBI. Western Illinois is hitting .284 as a team, but Leatherneck pitchers are allowing opponents to hit .349 against them.
Friday's meeting will be the first ever between the two programs. Fans can follow this weekend's action through Gametracker live stats and All-Access streaming video online at uabsports.com.
