WKU Game Notes (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WKU Baseball will take on UAB this weekend for a Friday-to-Sunday series at Regions Field, the home of the Birmingham Barons, from April 20-22.
Series History
WKU holds a slim edge in the all-time series, with a 32-31 advantage over UAB. From their first meeting in 1981 to 1994, the clubs played at least once every year except for 1982 and 1992. In Conference USA play over the past three seasons, UAB holds a 6-3 record.
Each squad has an edge in home games, with the Hilltoppers boasting a 19-13 record in Bowling Green and the Blazers with an 18-13 mark in Birmingham. However, WKU took 2-of-3 from UAB in the 2016 series at Young Memorial Field, including a 6-5, 10-inning win in the series finale.
Last season at Nick Denes Field, the Hilltoppers won the first game by a score of 9-6. Five WKU hitters recorded multiple hits, and Hunter Wood and Thomas Peter hit back-to-back homeruns in the fifth inning to help propel the team to the win. But the Hilltoppers dropped the final two contests to the Blazers as the visitors took 2-of-3 over the weekend.
Series Preview
With the Blazers at 16-19 overall and 8-7 in C-USA action, only a game separates them and WKU, who stands at 17-19 and 7-8 in league competition.
In 15 C-USA games, UAB ranks 12th with a .235/.323/.322 slash line, but first with a .979 team fielding percentage. The Blazers have hit only 11 homeruns as a club this season, but eighth of those have come in league action.
Designated hitter Brett Blackwood leads the team with four homeruns and a .333/.366/.524 slash line. Meanwhile, second baseman Carter Pharis is not far behind, slashing .298/.395/.444 with a club-high 19 RBI. Pharis is the lone Blazer to start all 35 games this season.
Only the Friday night pitching matchup has been confirmed for the weekend, and it will be lefty Ryan Thurston for the Hilltoppers against righty Tanner Graham of UAB.
Thurston entered last weekend's start vs. Marshall with 8-of-8 starts of five-plus innings, but completed four in a 6-5 loss to the Thundering Herd. The senior still held the visitors to only two runs for a no-decision, leaving the contest at 101 pitches in a 2-2 tie.
Graham tossed a complete game for the Blazers in a 6-3 win over Old Dominion. The junior allowed four hits and two earned runs on 118 pitches, while striking out four and walking a pair. In five C-USA starts, Graham is 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and .181 batting average against in 37 innings pitched.
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