UAB Baseball Starts Conference USA Play Versus Rice

Saturday, March 18

Young Memorial Field

2 P.M.

UAB

Rice

UAB Baseball Starts Conference USA Play Versus Rice

3/16/2023 5:09:00 PM | Baseball

BIRMINGHAM – UAB (5-11, 0-0 C-USA) will host Rice (8-9, 0-0 C-USA) for the first Conference USA series matchup of the season. Game one's first pitch is set for 5 P.M. on Friday, March 17 at Young Memorial Field.

Opponent: Rice Owls
Location: Young Memorial Field
Game Times: Fri. at 5 P.M. | Sat. at 2 P.M. | Sun. at Noon
TV: CUSA TV
Live Stats: Sidearm

The Blazers enter conference play with a bit of momentum after defeating in-state foes, Samford, 9-5 on Tuesday, March 14 at home while the Owls enter play coming off a 6-0 loss at Baylor also on Tuesday. Both programs find themselves towards the bottom of the pack in C-USA standings – Rice (8th) and UAB (10th).

UAB BLAZERS
Christian Hall, who has started all 16 games as either the designated hitter or first baseman, currently leads UAB in batting average (.268), hits (15), RBIs (15) and is second in on-base percentage (.414). John Marc Mullins and Brayton Brown have also started in every game so far this season. Mullins – starting second baseman – leads the team in runs (14), triples (2), slugging percentage (.447) and shares the lead with David Harris in on-base percentage (.500). Brown sits with the most doubles (6), third in RBIs (7) and is one of the four Blazers who have a .300 or better slugging percentage. Ben Abernathy, Brown and Mullins all currently sit second with most hits on the team (12).

Starting Rotation:
UAB will keep its weekend pitchers but will change up the rotation. Brooks Walton will take the mound for game one followed by Blayze Berry on Saturday and Carson Myers on Sunday afternoon.

Walton (1-1) has appeared on the mound four times for the Blazers, but only has collected three starts. He currently sits with a 4.91 ERA through 18.1 innings pitched. Walton has allowed 19 hits, 10 runs – all earned – and 17 strikeouts. Berry (1-1) has pitched 23.1 innings during his four starts and has allowed 23 hits, 12 runs – 10 of those earned – and 20 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.86. As for Myers (0-1), he has also started four times on the mound for UAB while throwing 19.2 innings with a 4.12 ERA and 17 hits, 11 runs – nine earned – and 21 strikeouts.

RICE OWLS
The Rice Owls are offensively led by Connor Walsh and Pierce Gallo. Walsh currently bats .357 while Gallo bats .370 and both have 20 hits on the season. Walsh leads the team in doubles (5), home runs (4) and RBIs (14). Three Owls sit with a .400 or better on base percentage including Walsh (.486), Gallo (.435) and Drew Holderbach (.425).

Starting Rotation:
Rice will start Parker Smith (1-1) on the mound for Friday's game. The right-hander has allowed 19 hits, eight runs, six walks and 22 strikeouts during his 22.2 inning pitched through four starts. The Owls' other two starters are to be determined.

UAB AND RICE HISTORY
UAB and Rice first met in April 2006 for a three-game series in Houston, Texas where Rice swept UAB. However, the Blazers took the most recent series in March of last year defeating the Owls in games two and three. Rice leads the overall series 34-17.

C-USA STANDINGS
Conference USA standings entering play this weekend:

UTSA (15-3)
WKU (14-4)
Florida Atlantic (12-6)
Dallas Baptist (11-6)
FIU (11-7)
Louisiana Tech (9-8)
Middle Tennessee (8-8)
Rice (8-9)
Charlotte (6-10)
UAB (5-11)

PROMOTIONS
Fans will have two promotional opportunities at Young Memorial Field this weekend – Green out for St. Patrick's Day and Signature Sunday. For those who wear green on Friday will get a discounted ticket then fans are encouraged to participate in Signature Sunday and kids have the opportunity to run the bases at the conclusion of Sunday's game.

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