The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball Squares Off Against No. 5 Rice On Friday
5/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2012
Game Notes 
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB baseball team hits the road for the second straight week in Conference USA play, this time to Houston to play the fifth-ranked Rice Owls for a three-game series starting on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT at Reckling Park.
UAB (27-23, 7-11 C-USA) | #5 Rice (34-13, 13-5 C-USA)
Series Information & Probable Starters
Location: Houston, Texas (Reckling Park)
GameTracker/Video/Live Chat: UABsports.com
Game 1: Fri., 6:30 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Michael Busby (3-3, 3.99 ERA)
RICE: RHP Matthew Reckling (7-1, 2.38 ERA)
Game 2: Sat., 2 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Ben Bullard (5-5, 2.92 ERA)
RICE: RHP Austin Kubitza (4-3, 3.44 ERA)
Game 3: Sun., 1 p.m. CT
UAB: TBA
RICE: RHP John Simms (4-0, 2.78 ERA)
All-Time Series: Rice leads, 15-7
The Owls hold a 15-7 edge in the previous 22 meetings between the two clubs. However, UAB has shown recent success winning four of the last five games, including three of four last season.
2011 Rewind
Following a 9-5 loss in game one against Rice at Young Memorial Field, the Blazers bounced back to sweep a doubleheader by scores of 7-2 and 8-7. The series finale was won in walk-off fashion on a Keith DePew bases loaded single.
At the C-USA Tournament, as the No. 8 seed, UAB defeated the top-seeded Owls, 9-8, in the first game of the league tournament.
Midweek Matchup: UAB 4, Jacksonville State 1 (5/9/12)
Seven UAB pitchers combined to hold the Jacksonville State offense to one run on five hits as the Blazers clipped the Gamecocks, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Young Memorial Field.
David Hayes (1-0) started the staff effort for UAB pitching two scoreless innings, while Ruben Tresgallo, Tanner Bryant, Dylan Munger, Jacob German, Dillon Napoleon and Ryan Nance all worked out of the pen. The seven pitchers used tied a season-high for the Blazers and marked the most used in a victory in 2012.
Patrick Palmeiro hit his third homer of the season, while Chase Davis went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the offense.
UAB Scouting Report
>Following the 4-1 victory against Jacksonville State, UAB now sits at 27-23 overall along with a 7-11 record in C-USA play.
>The Blazers are hitting .264 as a team and averaging 4.84 runs off 9.14 hits per game. In league games, UAB has been a more productive offense, hitting .283 and collecting 5.22 runs and an even 10 hits per contest against conference arms.
>One of the most dangerous hitters in the Blazer lineup and in all of C-USA has been OF Jeff Schalk. The true freshman ranks in the top-10 in multiple statistical categories in league play, including batting average (.378; 5th), on-base percentage (.452; 3rd), hits (28; T-5th), total bases (36; 8th) and slugging percentage (.486; 9th).
>Schalk has recorded a hit in 16 of 18 C-USA games and has reach safely in every league contest this season.
>The right side of the UAB infield has shown success at the dish against the Rice Owls in the past, in 2B Keith DePew and 1B John Frost as the duo has a combined batting average of .396 (21-for-53).
>DePew owns a career .476 (10-for-21) average against Rice, with five RBI and three runs scored. In fact, his career-highs in hits (four) and RBI (five), both came last year during his junior season against Rice. DePew roped four hits against the nationally-ranked squad at the C-USA Tournament. Earlier in 2011, DePew knocked a career-best five runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the 12th to claim the series against the Owls.
>Frost is 11-for-32 in his career against Rice, for a .344 batting clip. He has collected four extra-base hits, including a homer along with 13 RBI and 17 total bases in just seven career games. In four games vs. Rice in 2011, Frost knocked in nine runs.
>The UAB pitching staff owns a team ERA of 4.32, surrendering 5.16 runs and 9.28 hits a contest. In league play, the Blazers ERA is 5.91. Overall, the staff has struck out 330 batters, compared to only 154 walks.
>Saturday starter Ben Bullard has been a rock in the middle of the UAB rotation all season long. The right-hander is 5-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 12 starts. In 80.0 total innings, Bullard has fanned 78 batters, fourth-most in C-USA, while only issuing 17 walks. He is one of only two pitchers to appear in the conference’s top 10 in strikeouts and fewest walks.
Rice Scouting Report
>Rice defeated Stephen F. Austin 6-0 on Tuesday, improving to 34-13 overall. The Owls are tied atop the C-USA standings with UCF, both featuring a 13-5 league record. Rice and UCF will square off next weekend.
>On offense, Rice is averaging 5.77 runs per game, along with 9.49 hits as part of a .281 team batting average.
>Christian Stringer, Jeremy Rathjen and Michael Fuda all have reached the 60 hit mark in 2012, with all three players hitting above .300. Both Stringer and Rathjen have hitting clips above .350 and the trio has combined to hit 18 of the team’s 31 homers.
>A versatile player for Rice has been J.T. Chargois, who is hitting at a .310 clip with 23 RBI and also serves as the team closer, with a 4-1 record and team-high eight saves.
>As a staff, Rice owns a team ERA of 2.89 with seven total shutouts and holding opponents to a .215 hitting clip and 429 strikeouts in 426.2 total innings.
>Friday night starter Matthew Reckling has been one of the most dominant e pitchers in C-USA and across the country. The right-hander sports a 7-1 record and 2.38 ERA over 13 total appearances, 11 of which have been starts. In 72.0 innings, Reckling has 85 strikeouts and allowed only 43 hits, holding opponents to a .172 batting average. He has also thrown three complete games, including two shutouts.
