The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Hosts No. 14 Florida Atlantic
4/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
UAB (23-19, 10-11 C-USA) vs. No. 14 Florida Atlantic (33-10, 15-6 C-USA)
Details: Young Memorial Field | Birmingham, Ala.
Friday, May 1 -- 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, May 2 -- 2 p.m. | Sunday, May 3 -- 12 p.m.
Follow the Blazers: Twitter
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Live Video: Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Game Notes: UAB
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB's baseball team returns to the diamond this weekend to host No. 14 Florida Atlantic in a three-game series at Young Memorial Field.
First pitch for Friday's game will be at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Live stats and live video will be available for all three games. Information to that can be accessed at UABSports.com or in the links above.
Leading Off
- UAB welcomes No. 14 Florida Atlantic for a three-game home series this weekend. The Blazers are looking to snap a four-game losing streak.
- FAU is the second ranked Conference USA team the Blazers have faced this season. UAB went 2-1 vs. then-No. 12 Rice on April 10-13.
- The Blazers are coming off a C-USA weekend vs. Charlotte and a midweek loss at Samford. The 49ers swept UAB with a 6-0 win last Friday night, a close 5-4 decision Saturday, and 3-1, 12-inning affair Sunday. Samford defeated the Blazers, 4-2, on Wednesday.
- Right fielder Griffin Gum has been hot of late, with a .375 batting average (15 hits in 40 at bats) in the last 10 games. He has six RBI, three stolen bases, two doubles, 15 hits, seven runs and a home run over that span.
- RHP/DH Adam Lau was named to the 2015 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year watch list last week, an award given annually to the nation's top player both on the mound and at the plate. He is one of 36 players nationwide to earn the honor.
- UAB turns 1.05 double plays per game, which ranks No. 14 in the NCAA, and the Blazers are 27th overall with 43 double plays. UAB is also second in C-USA with a .971 fielding percentage. 
Series History
Last season marked the first-ever meeting between UAB and Florida Atlantic, as the Owls were a new member institution to Conference USA a year ago. 
The Blazers and Owls met in a three-game set to close the 2014 regular season and UAB dropped that series in Boca Raton, 2-1. The Green and Gold salvaged an 8-6 win in the series finale, and fell in the first two games, 3-1 and 10-9.
Scouting The Opponent
Florida Atlantic enters the weekend in a tie for first place in C-USA with Middle Tennessee at 15-6 in league play. The Owls have weekend series remaining against Rice and Western Kentucky before play at the 2015 C-USA Baseball Championship begins. 
The Owls are No. 8 nationally in batting average (.311) and first in C-USA. The club also ranks in the top-10 in the NCAA in walks (231), on-base percentage (.408), sacrifice flies (29) and scoring (7.5 runs/game).
Seven different hitters for FAU are hitting over .300, led by Brendon Sanger's clip of .364. He has the team lead in RBI with 39, while Christian Dicks has a club-best seven long balls. Stephen Kerr has swiped a team-best 13 bases, a clun that is 39-of-56 on the base paths.
Florida Atlantic's pitching staff enters the weekend with a 3.31 team ERA and .249 batting average against. Drew Jackson leads the starters with a 2.03 ERA in 53.1 IP with 35 strikeouts and 13 walks. Brandon Rhodes has thrown the most innings on the squad (58.2), and Kyle Miller checks in with a 3.83 ERA in 11 games started.
Weekend Promotions
Family Fridays: Every home Friday Blazer baseball game a family of four (two adults, two children) can purchase a discounted ticket package for $10 at Young Memorial Field.
Kids' Days: Every Sunday free admission for children eighth grade and under with a paid adult.
Church Bulletin Days: Every Sunday admission is $1 with a current church bulletin.
Senior Day and Social Saturday: Help celebrate our seniors as they play their final regular season home game on May 16. Fans are also encouraged to spread the word on social media, and by sharing a special Senior Day social media message while at the ticket window to receive up to two FREE tickets.
Looking Ahead
The Blazers get right back into non-conference play next Tuesday and Wednesday with games vs. in-state foe Alabama State. UAB will host the Hornets Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., and travel to Montgomery Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest. 
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
