The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Welcomes Troy, Alabama State for Midweek Games
2/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team is back at home for two midweek games. The Blazers host Troy at 6:00 p.m. at Regions Field tomorrow night before welcoming Alabama State on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Young Memorial Field. UAB is currently 5-2 this year including 5-1 at home while the Trojans are 4-3 and Hornets are 2-6.
The Troy game was originally scheduled for 4:00 p.m. before being moved to the later time earlier today. The Alabama State contest is a makeup for a game originally scheduled for last Tuesday.
Kyle Davis will be receiving his first start of the season and fourth of his career in the Tuesday night affair. The Wednesday night starter has yet to be announced.
"Midweek games are awesome," said UAB head coach Brian Shoop. "It forces you to pitch more of your guys. You have to pitch to evaluate and pitch to improve."
HOW TO FOLLOW
GAME NOTES • UAB | Troy | Alabama State LIVE STATS • | LIVE STREAM • UAB
TWITTER • @UAB_Baseball
INSTAGRAM • @UAB_Baseball
SNAPCHAT • UABathletics
WEEKEND ROTATION
| Day | Player | R/L | Class | Stats | Opp. Pitcher | R/L | Class | Stats |
| Tuesday | R | So. | 0-0, 0.00 ERA | Austin Crook | L | R-Sr. | - | |
| Wednesday | TBA | - | - | - | Jon Roblez | R | Sr. | 0-1, 7.20 ERA |
QUICK RECAP - TWO OUT OF THREE VERSUS VALPO
The UAB baseball team took the first two games of this past weekend's series versus Valparaiso to take the series after sweeping the opening weekend against Creighton. The Blazers won by scores of 5-1 and 3-2 before dropping the finale 9-5.
Multiple Blazers shined over the weekend. Garrett Whitlock and Carson Jones earned the wins on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Whitlock threw the first UAB complete game since James Naile did so in 2015 while Jones earned the win after 4.2 innings of one-run ball in relief.
Stephen Dobbs had at least one RBI in each game. The catcher started the first two games and came off the bench in the finale. Dobbs had four RBI including two in Saturday's contest. He now leads the team with eight RBI.
LOCKED IN
Garrett Whitlock's incredible opening day performance was recognized by Conference USA as the sophomore was tabbed the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week following the opening weekend of action. Locked into a pitcher's dual with Bluejays junior Rollie Lacy, Whitlock induced 13 groundouts and registered three, 1-2-3 innings. The Snellville, Georgia, native didn't allow an extra-base hit. Whitlock would allow on two hits over his final three innings. Whitlock carried that into the next start by throwing a one-run complete game. He didn't allow a single base runner over the final three frames and needed only 97 pitches to get through the game.
McCOWN'S TOP PLAY
Riley McCown is coming off a great weekend against Valparaiso. Not only did the UAB right fielder bat 3-for-9 (.333) with one run in all three games in addition to one RBI, one walk, and one stolen base, but a remarkable play in the second inning of the first game was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter. McCown made a sliding catch and immediately pounced to his feet to gun down a runner at home plate who tagged up at third to try and score. The play was featured as the number nine play on the shows 'Top 10' plays of the night. He is on a six-game on-base streak.
SCOUTING TROY
The Trojans are coming off a grueling weekend series at New Orleans. Troy took the series but had to go to extra innings in the last two contest including a 13 inning, 3-2 loss Saturday night. The Trojans did hand New Orleans its first two losses of the year while going above .500 with a 4-3 record this year.
Brandon Lockridge has been stellar for Troy thus far. The sophomore has started every game at second base and leads the team with his .375 avg, 12 hits, three doubles, and 15 total bases. Lockridge batted 6-for-16 against the Privateers this past weekend.
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
The Hornets topped UAB in the early meeting between the two last week by the score of 7-2. They then lost three straight this past weekend before topping Iowa 4-3 in their finale at the Hoover Met.
Catcher Hunter Allen hurt the Blazers hitting 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. The junior has gone three straight games without a hit, however, and is now hitting .222 for the year. His 4 RBI lead the team.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blazers hold the advantage against both of these teams all-time. UAB won the last meeting versus Troy 7-0 last season to take a 26-21 advantage in the series. Alabama State's win last week over the Blazers cut the all-time lead for the Blazers to 24-3 against the SWAC representative.
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 (@UAB_Athletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uab_athletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
