The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Takes on Creighton in Omaha
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB baseball team embarks on its first out-of-state trip of the season to take on Creighton in a three-game series this weekend at TD Ameritrade Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska — home of the Men’s College World Series.
The Blazers and Jays square off Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday and a noon Sunday start.
UAB enters the weekend with an even 6-6 record after taking two of three from Kennesaw State at Regions Field last week. The Blazers are looking to pick up their first road wins, standing at 0-2 away from home.
Senior outfielder Griffin Gum continues to lead the UAB offense with a .316 batting average and 12 hits, while freshman first baseman Carter Pharis has driven in a team-high 10 runs in 12 starts.
The UAB pitching staff has been magnificent despite a few rough innings. Blazer hurlers own a cumulative 3.31 ERA through 106.0 innings, and have recorded 84 strikeouts. The Green and Gold has also tossed two shutouts and held opposing offenses to five or fewer hits five times this season.
Across the diamond, Creighton is 6-4 heading into the three-game series. The Bluejays swept Murray State in three games on the road last weekend, but suffered an 8-2 loss to Kansas State on Wednesday night.
The Jays’ offense is headed up by Daniel Woodrow. The junior is hitting .378, leading the way with 17 hits. Senior Brett Murray provides the extra-base hits, totaling two doubles, two triples and a home run in 10 starts in the outfield.
Creighton sports a stout pitching staff with a 3.03 ERA. The Creighton arms have allowed its offense to out-hit opponents, 91-72, and out-score teams, 49-37. Sam Norman, Rollie Lacy and Matt Warren lead the staff with two wins each.
Left-hander Ryan Ruggles and right-hander Tanner Graham are scheduled to start for the Blazers on Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s starter has yet to be decided. Creighton will throw Lacy and Warren in the first two games, and the right-handed Keith Rogalla will start the third game.
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 social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
