The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Baseball Hosts Xavier For Weekend Series
2/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2013
Game Notes 
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The UAB baseball team hosts Xavier at Young Memorial Field this weekend to wrap up a five-game week. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. CT.
UAB (2-3) vs. Xavier (1-2)
Series Information & Probable Starters
Location: Birmingham, Ala. (Young Memorial Field)
Game 1: Fri., 3 p.m. CT
XU: RHP Vinny Nittoli (0-0, 6.23)
UAB: RHP Tanner Bryant (1-0, 1.59)
Game 2: Sat., 2 p.m. CT
XU: Jon Richard (0-0, 3.00)
UAB: RHP James Naile (1-0, 0.00)
Game 3: Sun., 12 p.m. CT
XU: RHP Tyler Koors (0-1, 1.50)
UAB: TBA
Multimedia
Video: All-Access (UABsports.com)
GameTracker: UABsports.com
Twitter Updates: @UABathletics; @UABbaseball
All-Time Series: UAB leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: UAB 7, XU 6 in Birmingham, Ala. (2/27/11)
UAB scored five runs in the final three innings to come back from three down, 5-2, to complete the sweep of the Musketeers. Tied, 6-6, in the ninth, John Frost hit a bases-loaded single to deep right to drive in the winning run in walk-off fashion.
UAB Scouting Report
The Blazers lost both games of a two-game midweek set against Jacksonville State. UAB managed only four runs in the series, all of which came in the ninth inning of game two.
Despite a team batting average of .204, the Blazers have seen success at the top of their lineup. The 1-2-3 hitters for UAB, Chase Davis, Ryan Prinzing, and Ivan De Jesus, have hit a combined .346 with three doubles (one each) and five RBI.
The two pitchers named to start for UAB on Friday (Tanner Bryant) and Saturday (James Naile) combined to pitch 11.2 innings allowing eight hits, one run, no walks, and 10 strikeouts in their first starts against Southern Illinois.
Xavier Scouting Report
First baseman/outfielder Brian Bruening closed out the 2012 season on a 12-game hitting streak, the longest of the season for Xavier, and has hit safely in all three of XU's games this season to extend his hitting streak to 15-straight games. He has opened the season hitting .385 with a triple and two runs scored.
Xavier opened the 2012 season at the College of Charleston, posting a 1-2 record. The Musketeers dropped Friday night's decision, 6-3, despite out-hitting the Cougars, 6-4. XU rebounded with a 6-5 victory after Vinny Nittoli drove in the game-winning run in the top of the ninth. The series closed with a 4-1 defeat to the Cougars.
Senior pitcher Jon Richard ranks eighth all-time in career innings pitched at Xavier with 269.0 IP. Richard led the Musketeers with 87.1 IP last season and threw 6.0 innings in his debut this season against Charleston. Richard, who allowed only two earned runs, fanned five batters and only allowed one walk against the Cougars.
Shut Down Relief
Blazers' pitchers have allowed only one run to score after the fourth inning this season. The last run allowed after the fourth inning was in the seventh inning of the season opener vs. Southern Illinois.
Picking Up From Where They Left Off
Ivan De Jesus returns as UAB's top hitter from a season ago, registering a .294 batting average along with a team-best 70 hits, four triples and 12 stolen bases. This season, De Jesus has recorded a hit in all five games building a .368 batting average while driving in four runs.
Jeff Schalk, who was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, showcased patience and power in his first collegiate season, tying for team-high honors in walks (33), while clubbing 12 extra base hits and knocking in 24, including a memorable three-run homer in the C-USA title win over Memphis. In 19 plate appearances this season, Schalk has a team high four free passes and a home run
Struggles Early
Of the 20 runs allowed this season, 19 of them have been scored in the first four innings. The third and fourth innings have been the most damaging to the Blazers with the opponent scoring eight and seven runs in those innings, respectively.
