The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball Set To Play Crosstown Foe Samford
4/16/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB baseball team will play a two-game series with crosstown rival Samford, starting on Tuesday at Young Memorial Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The two teams will square off again a day later at Joe Lee Griffin Field at 6 p.m. CT.
UAB (21-16) | Samford (21-15)
Game Information & Probable Starters
All-Access/GameTracker/Live Chat: UABsports.com
Radio (Wednesday): WJOX-AM 690 - David Crane (pxp) and Ryan Keedy (color)
Game 1: Tues., 6:30 p.m. (Young Memorial Field)
UAB: RHP Alex Luna (1-0, 4.05 ERA)
SAM: LHP Taylor Hammond (0-0, 1.08 ERA)
Game 2: Wed., 6 p.m. (Joe Lee Griffin Field)
UAB: TBA
SAM: TBA
All-Time Series: UAB leads, 53-20
Last Meeting: Samford 9, UAB 2 (3/16/11)
The Blazers managed just four hits off of six different Samford pitchers, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 9-2 victory. Samford scored a run in five different innings and multiple runs three times.
Scouting UAB
>UAB finished the week 2-2, first winning at in-state foe Alabama, before taking one of three against the Tulane Green Wave.
>The Blazers swept the season series with Alabama after winning 9-1 last Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. For the season, the UAB pitching staff only surrendered one run in 21 total innings against the Crimson Tide offense. The staff also only issued one walk and struck out 13 during that span.
>The 4-3 victory in game two vs. Tulane marked the 10th one-run victory of the season for the Blazers. In games decided by one-run, UAB is 10-4 on the year.
>OF Jeff Schalk hit .462 (6-for-13) for the series against the Green Wave, including his fifth three-hit game of the season. Schalk is currently on a nine-game hit streak and has hit safely in 15 of the last 16 games. For the season, Schalk leads the UAB team with a .344 average and reaching base at a .430 clip.
>UAB did not commit an error in the three-game series against Tulane.
>OF Ryan Ussery hit a homer in each of the first two games of the series with the Green Wave to give him a team-best three round trippers on the season.
>1B John Frost had a hit in all four games during the week and has reached base safely in 16 consecutive ball games.
>3B Patrick Palmeiro has started 94 consecutive games for the Blazers, which is every contest that has been played since he transferred to UAB last season.
>RHP Alex Luna will make his first collegiate start on Tuesday. The freshman has appeared in four games registering a record of 1-0 along with a 4.05 ERA. In four appearances, Luna has totaled 6.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
>UAB is averaging just a shade under five runs a game (4.97) off of 9.6 hits per contest.
>A total off 11 Blazer players have recorded eight or more RBI this season, led by Patrick Palmeiro's 23.
Scouting Samford
>The Bulldogs dropped two of three at College of Charleston last weekend to sit at 21-15 overall and 10-8 in the Southern Conference.
>Samford is hitting just a tick under .300 as a team (.299) and slugging at a .452 clip, which features 38 homers. The Bulldogs are averaging 6.7 runs and 10.6 hits per game for the season.
>Brandon Miller has been the major power hitter in the Samford lineup. Miller has connected for 14 homers and drove in 42, while slugging at a .644 average. He is hitting .288 and has scored 31 times.
>Saxson Butler (seven homers) and Philip Ervin (six homers) have also showcased long ball ability. Each player has driven in 31 runs and scored 35 and 32 times, respectively. Butler is hitting a robust .371 for the season.
>The Bulldogs will send lefty Taylor Hammond to the mound on Tuesday. Hammond does not have a decision in 2012, having made 16 appearances totaling 8.1 innings. He has allowed just one earned run off three hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Opponents are hitting only .111 against the southpaw and he has registered a save this season.
