March 31, 2008

Gametracker: Tuesday l Wednesday  •  Audio: Tuesday  l Wednesday  •  Wednesday Video 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Coming off a productive five-game week, the UAB baseball team looks to continue to take steps in the right direction this week when it takes on the Alabama Crimson Tide in a home-and-away midweek series Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with Tuesday's game to be played at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Wednesday's matchup to take place at Regions Park in Hoover.

For tickets to Wednesday's game at Regions Park, call 975-UAB1.

Both games can be heard in the Birmingham area on 690 AM WSPZ and on the web on All-Access at UABsports.com. David Crane will have the call for both contests.

UAB, 9-15 (1-5 C-USA) on the year, hopes to continue its recent run production after several Blazers emerged as offensive threats last week. Despite losing its series with Tulane last weekend, 2-1, the Blazers were able to plate 25 runs in three games.

Center fielder Cody McMurry played a big role in increasing the scoring as he earned Conference USA Co-Hitter of the Week honors on Monday after he hit .364 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the team's five games last week.

In addition to McMurry stepping up his contributions at the plate, shortstop Jonathan Merritt has got off to a strong start in Conference USA, hitting .435 in six league games after topping the club in that category during the conference season in 2007.

Catcher Allen Aubin and third baseman Luke Stewart combined to go 7-for-10 as the team's eight and nine hitters on Sunday against Tulane. Both hit home runs in the game, while Aubin had a career-best four RBI.

First baseman Ryan Keedy is chasing history this week as he is on an 18-game hitting streak and is within striking distance of the school record of 23 games, set by Doug Gann in 1991. Keedy has hit safely in 22 of the team's 24 games this season and has recorded 17 multiple hit games after doing so in 14 of the club's last 18 games.

In addition to Keedy's streak, left fielder Phil Bell has matched a career-long 15-game hitting streak entering play Tuesday.

Right-hander Dustin Colburn (1-1), a Tuscaloosa native, will get the start on the mound for the Blazers Tuesday night after earning a win in his first start of the season against Alabama A&M last Wednesday.

Right-hander Mitch Kloskowski (2-3) will take the hill Wednesday night looking to snap his three-game losing streak. Kloskowski holds an ERA of 4.32 and opponents are hitting just .213 against him.

Alabama enters the midweek series with a record of 15-12 (4-5 SEC) after winning two-out-of-three games against 15th-ranked Mississippi this past weekend. Shorstop Josh Rutledge was a combined 7-for-11 with three RBI against the Rebels to up his season batting average to a team-leading .368. He also tops the club with seven stolen bases this season.

Catcher Alex Avila has hit a team-high eight home runs and driven in 25 runs to aide the team's 6.9 runs/game clip.

Left-hander Miers Quigley (2-1) will make his fourth start of the season at home Tuesday night, while right-hander Casey Kebodeaux (2-2) will start Wednesday's game on the mound for the Tide.

The Crimson Tide lead the all-time series with UAB, 34-14.