The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball Takes Weekend Trip To Memphis
5/3/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
May 3, 2012
GameTracker | Friday's Video | Friday's Live Chat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB baseball team will compete in a game outside of the state of Alabama for the first time in nearly a month, as the Blazers are slated for a pivotal three-game series against the Memphis Tigers this weekend. First game of the series is slated for Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT at FedExPark.
UAB (26-20, 7-8 C-USA) | Memphis (20-24, 8-10 C-USA)
Series Information & Probable Starters
Location: Memphis, Tenn. (FedExPark)
Video/GameTracker/Live Chat: UABsports.com
Game 1: Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Dillon Napoleon (4-2, 4.58 ERA)
UM: RHP Dan Langfield (5-6, 3.01 ERA)
Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Ben Bullard (5-4, 2.74 ERA)
UM: LHP Sam Moll (4-4, 2.59 ERA)
Game 3: Sunday, 1 p.m. CT
UAB: RHP Michael Busby (3-3, 3.32 ERA)
UM: RHP Chase Joiner (3-4, 3.90 ERA)
All-Time Series: UAB leads, 40-39
The Blazers lead the all-time series with Memphis, 40-39, but are 4-6 over the last 10 meetings, with the Tigers claiming all four matchups in 2011.
Last Meeting: Memphis 5, UAB 4 (May 27, 2011 -- C-USA Tournament)
UAB evened the score, 4-4, in the top half of the eighth on a Ryan Prinzing RBI single, but Memphis responded pushing across what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom half of the frame. Robby Graham knocked in Memphis’ fifth run with a RBI single to conclude the 2011 campaign for the Blazers.
Last Series: Memphis 3, UAB 0
Memphis swept the Blazers at Young Memorial Field. The Tigers claimed both ends of a doubleheader, 6-4 and 4-3, before claiming the finale 6-1.
Scouting UAB
>The Blazers own a record of 26-20 overall and 7-8 in league play. UAB currently sits in sixth place in the league standings, one spot ahead of this weekend’s opponent, Memphis.
Lineup Look
>UAB is averaging a shade under five runs a game (4.97) off 9.26 hits per contest.
>After sweeping Houston last weekend, Ivan De Jesus was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week. De Jesus produced an excellent week in the Blazers' lineup, hitting .421 (8-for-19) and registered a .625 slugging percentage. The sophomore collected three multi-hit games in four starts, including a 3-for-5 day in a game two victory against Houston.
>Another outfielder has been a spark in the Blazer offense is freshman Jeff Schalk, who touts a team-high batting average of .319. Schalk has collected 52 hits, including five doubles and two homers and knocked in 20. He is reaching base at a .404 clip and has walked (22) nearly as much as he has struck out (28).
>In C-USA games, UAB is hitting .293, scoring 5.66 runs off 10.4 hits. In league play, Schalk is hitting at a .400 (24-for-60) clip and has an on-base percentage of .478.
Pitching Pointers
>The UAB pitching staff has a 4.23 ERA, totaling 308 strikeouts and 133 walks in 415.1 total innings.
>RHP Dillon Napoleon will get the nod on Friday night for the Blazers. The senior is 4-2 with a 4.58 ERA. On the season, Napoleon has earned victories against a pair of ranked opponents. The right-hander defeated then No. 16 Clemson and then No. 14 UCF, both on the road.
>On Saturday, RHP Ben Bullard will the get the nod, as the junior has been one of the most consistent pitchers both on the Blazers and in C-USA. The righty is 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA with 71 strikeouts compared to only 14 walks in 72.1 innings. Bullard’s name is listed amongst the league leaders in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts.
>Sunday’s starter, RHP Michael Busby, is coming off one of the most impressive outings in recent memory by a UAB pitcher. The senior fired a complete-game shutout, the first by a Blazer since 2004, to help cap off a three-game sweep of the Houston Cougars. On the season, Busby has 39 strikeouts to just 13 walks in 65 innings on the bump.
Memphis Scouting Report
>Memphis enters the weekend with a 20-24 record and 8-10 in league play after claiming two of three against nationally ranked UCF a week ago.
>As a team, the Tigers are hitting .277 and averaging 5.32 runs off 9.27 his per game.
>Leading Memphis in hitting has been Adam McClain, who ranks amongst the top 10 in C-USA with a .384 batting average. The middle infielder has 66 hits, scored 33 times and stole 10 bases.
>Memphis has a total of 31 homers as a team, with 20 of those round trippers coming from the duo of Jacob Wilson and Eli Hynes. Each player has connected for 10 homers and combined have knocked in 80 runs for the Tiger offense.
>Friday starter Dan Langfield has collected 88 strikeouts in 71.2 innings, but Chase Joiner is the hottest pitcher right now on the Memphis staff. Joiner earned C-USA Pitcher of the Week honors by tossing a complete game shutout against UCF last Sunday.
>As a staff, Memphis owns an ERA of 3.97 with 304 strikeouts and 159 walks in 382.2 innings pitched.
