The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Weather Alters UAB-FAU Series
3/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB-FAU baseball series for this weekend has seen a change of schedule as a result of the imminent weather. The Blazers and Owls will now play a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 24. The second game is currently scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m.
UAB enters with a 13-8 overall record and are 2-1 in Conference USA. FAU stands at 14-6-1 and opened its conference slate at 3-0. This is the first C-USA home series of the year for the Blazers.
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WEEKEND ROTATION
| Day | Player | R/L | Class | Stats | Opp. Pitcher | R/L | Class | Stats |
| Game One | R | So. | 3-1, 2.15 ERA | Marc Stewart | R | Jr. | 1-0, 4.02 ERA | |
| Game Two | TBA | - | - | - | Alex House | R | Jr. | 2-1, 4.76 ERA |
| Saturday | TBA | - | - | - | Jake Miednik | L | Jr. | 2-1, 5.34 ERA |
QUICK RECAP - UAB FALLS TO ALABAMA
The UAB baseball team fell to fellow in-state foe Alabama 4-1 on Tuesday night at Regions Field. UAB plated its lone run in the bottom of the ninth when Riley McCown hit a pop fly to left scoring Carter Pharis from second base.
UAB threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Pharis singled to lead off the inning. Pharis would steal second followed by a walk to Thomas Johns giving the Blazers two runners on base for the first and only time in the game. With runners on first and second base, catcher Stephen Dobbs hit into a triple play stopping the Blazers' momentum. It was the first triple play turned by a UAB opponent since Cleveland State did so on March 6, 2011.
IT'S NOT FAIR
Carter Pharis (FAIR-is) has been impressive over the last ten games for the Blazers. He leads the Green & Gold with a .588 batting average over that time and has produced a .634 on-base percentage. Pharis has scored seven times and provided nine RBI, four doubles, and swiped his first four steals of the season. He has had multiple hits in eight of the last nine games.
Pharis was the only returning starter in the infield for the Blazers, he started all 55 games last season and led UAB with a .297 average, 36 RBI and 13 doubles. He added 23 runs, two home runs and was a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases. The sophomore played third base over the summer in the Valley League on his way to All-Star honors and was named the 12th-best pro prospect in the league. Pharis is slated to play for the Y-D Red Sox of the Cape Cod League this upcoming summer.
SPEED DEMONS
Speed is a common denominator for teams under UAB head coach Brian Shoop. The pace of this year's squad has already been on full display as the Blazers are the only team in Conference USA with eight triples as they rank 30th in the nation. Brewer Hicklen ranks second in the country with five triples and is the only player in C-USA with four-or-more three baggers. Price Visintainer has added a pair of triples and Stephen Dobbs has the other triple. Hicklen and Visintainer are the only pair in C-USA with multiple triples as just seven other players have reached that mark this season.
The Blazers 27 steals also now ranks 52th in the country and first in the conference. Hicklen leads the team with nine steals and is at the top C-USA in that mark as well. Tyler Tolbert has added six steals and ranks third in the conference and 125th nationally. The two have also been extremely efficient in their steal attempts, being caught three times across 18 chances between both of them. During the Blazers five-game winning streak last week, the two combined for seven steals.
SCOUTING FAU
The Owls lost 7-5 at Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday night but won four straight going into that game including a C-USA sweep of Middle Tennessee.
FAU has crushed the ball to start the year. Its .313 batting average ranks 22nd in the nation and the Owls have hit 33 balls over the fence, placing them eighth in the country in homers.
SERIES HISTORY
The two schools never met before FAU joined C-USA in 2014. The Owls have held the early advantage in the series taking seven of the 11 contests. The Blazers were swept on the road last season to FAU.
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).
