The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers, Cougars Take Diamond For Weekend Series
4/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2012
Game Notes 
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----In has been 12 days since UAB's last Conference USA game and the Blazers are geared up for a weekend series against the Houston Cougars at Young Memorial Field. Game one of the series is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT as the Green and Gold starts the backstretch of league play.
UAB (23-20, 4-8 C-USA) | Houston (14-23-1, 3-8-1 C-USA)
Series Information & Probable Starters
Location: Birmingham, Ala. (Young Memorial Field)
All-Access/GameTracker/Live Chat: UABsports.com
Radio: WJOX-AM 690 with David Crane (Sunday only)
Game 1: Fri., 6:30 p.m. CT
UAB: LHP Dylan Munger (2-4, 5.34 ERA)
HOU: RHP Austin Pruitt (2-3, 3.02 ERA)
Game 2: Sat., 2 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Ben Bullard (4-4, 2.89 ERA)
HOU: RHP Jordan Mannisto (1-2, 3.51 ERA)
Game 3: Sun., 11:30 a.m. CT
UAB: RHP Michael Busby (2-3, 3.86 ERA)
HOU: TBA
All-Time Series: Houston leads, 35-15
Last Series: Blazers took two of three in Houston (April 8-10, 2011)
Last Meeting: Houston 8, UAB 7 (4/10/11)
Munger Makes Move
LHP Dylan Munger will make his first start in Conference USA action on Friday after being inserted into the rotation last Sunday vs. Gardner-Webb. In his first collegiate start against the Runnin' Bulldogs, Munger went a career-long six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts. The southpaw suffered the loss as GWU won the game 5-1.
Going, Going, Gone
The Blazers have found their home run trot during the past 11 games. During that stretch, UAB has cranked out 12 round trippers, including four games with multiple homers. In the team's first 32 games, the Blazers only connected for six long balls.
Scouting UAB
>The Blazers dropped a pair of midweek games at home, falling 8-3 to Kennesaw State and 9-2 against cross-town foe Samford.
>UAB sits at 23-20 overall, 4-8 in league play and 4-6 during the last 10 games.
Lineup Look
>The Blazers sport a .265 batting average, .347 on-base percentage and .352 slugging percentage as a club.
>A total of 16 homers have been hit by UAB, with OF Ryan Ussery leading the team with four deep flies. A total of nine different players have hit a home run this season.
>OF Jeff Schalk tops the Blazers in batting average (.311), walks (20) and second in hits (47), trailing only fellow OF Ivan De Jesus who has 49 base hits.
>UAB has picked its spots to steal in 2012, swiping 39 of 48 attempts for the season. De Jesus is the team-leader with 11 steals in 14 attempts. SS Todd Wilkinson is a perfect 6-for-6 on steals as another threat for the Blazers.
>De Jesus has filled up box scores all season, hitting .295 for the season. The sophomore has a team-best 49 hits, tied for a team-high 24 runs, four doubles, three triples, three homers and 17 RBI.
Pitching Pointers
>UAB has totaled a team ERA of 4.24 with 283 strikeouts and 124 walks in 388.1 innings pitched.
>Saturday starter RHP Ben Bullard has put forth a standout junior campaign with a 4-4 record and 2.89 ERA. He has 67 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched, compared to only 13 walks. He has posted three games of 10 or more strikeouts, including his last outing vs. Gardner-Webb, when he went six innings with 10 punch outs.
>Out of the bullpen, RHP Chase Mallard has been terrific during his sophomore season. Mallard has made a team-high 18 appearances with a 3-2 record and 1.99 ERA. He has 30 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched and holding opponents to a .187 batting average.
Scouting Houston
>The Cougars did not have a midweek game on the schedule and sit at 14-23-1 overall and 3-8-1 in C-USA play. The tie came against East Carolina due to a predetermined drop dead time because of travel arrangements.
>Houston has a team batting average of .267, led by Jacob Lueneburg with .305 average. The Cougars have hit just seven homers on the season, topped by Landon Appling with two.
>Austin Pruitt makes the start on Friday, sporting a 2-3 record and 3.02 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 62.2 innings. As a staff, Houston has a team ERA of 5.15 with 238 strikeouts and 136 walks in 332.1 innings pitched.
