The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Baseball Continues Conference USA Slate at No. 18 FAU
3/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The UAB baseball team travels to Boca Raton, Florida, for a three-game set with No. 18 Florida Atlantic this weekend. The Blazers and Owls square off Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the second Conference USA series of the season.
The Green and Gold is coming off an 8-0 Tuesday night win over No. 22 Alabama, shutting out the Crimson Tide for the first time since 2013. UAB improved its record to 9-12 with the victory and goes into the conference weekend with a 2-1 C-USA mark.
With a 2-for-4 performance in Tuesday’s win, senior Griffin Gum heads up the Blazers’ offense with a .333 batting average. The outfielder leads the bats with 24 hits and seven two-baggers. Redshirt freshman Brewer Hicklen, who had a three-hit evening with two stolen bases against Alabama, sits atop the lineup card with a .260 average and four extra-base hits.
Ryan Ruggles and Tanner Graham have been penciled in as UAB’s Thursday and Friday starting pitchers, respectively. Ruggles is 2-1 in five starts, touting a 2.36 ERA and starter-high 17 Ks, while Graham is 1-2 and looking to improve his 4.55 ERA.
Florida Atlantic is 2-1 in conference play, taking two from Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro last weekend. The Owls outscored the Raiders, 25-11, in their Conference USA opener. FAU suffered a narrow loss, 2-1, to No. 1 Florida on Tuesday in Gainesville, yet posted a couple of impressive wins over Mississippi State earlier in the season.
FAU’s offense is led by senior Billy Endris and junior CJ Chatham. The duo is hitting .364 apiece, and each has one home run. Endris has driven in 16 runs on five extra-base hits, while Chatham has batted in 14 and leads the lineup with six doubles. Collectively, the Owls are hitting .305 with 53 extra-base hits.
The Florida Atlantic pitching staff owns a 2.56 ERA and has held opposing teams to three or fewer runs 13 times this season. Left-hander Brandon Rhodes leads the rotation with three wins in five starts. The senior has a complete-game shutout under his belt.
The Blazers and Owls meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday before wrapping up with a noon first pitch Saturday.
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).
