April 21, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team will look to avenge an early season loss to Jacksonville State Tuesday night when the Blazers host the Gamecocks at Young Memorial Field at 6:30 p.m.

After winning two-out-of-three against 19th-ranked Houston last weekend, UAB steadily improved to 17-22 overall and 3-9 in Conference USA. The Gamecocks enter the contest with a 20-17 overall record and are in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference at 11-4.

This will be the second time UAB has faced Jacksonville State this season. In the last meeting, the Gamecocks were able to pull off a comeback victory, winning 6-5 after an eighth inning error proved costly for the Blazers.

Following a successful weekend series against 19th-ranked Houston, UAB will look to continue the offensive output Tuesday night.

Leading the team and Conference USA is first baseman Ryan Keedy with a .420 batting average and an impressive .514 on base percentage. Left fielder Phil Bell's 45 RBI and eight home runs lead the Blazers.

In the previous meeting with Jacksonville State this season, Bell went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in finishing just a double shy of becoming the third Blazer all-time to hit for the cycle. Keedy was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the prior meeting.

Right-hander Dustin Colburn (1-1, 14.73) is scheduled to start on the mound for the Blazers.

The Gamecocks have won eight of their last 10 games. Jacksonville State is led by Steven Leach who is batting .370 with 30 RBI. Clay Whittemore is second on the team with a .359 batting average and has a team-high eight home runs and 37 RBI.

Whittemore went 3-for-4 in the win over UAB earlier this season.

Jacksonville State leads the all-time series with UAB, 18-14.

David Crane will be calling the game, which can be heard on All-Access at UABsports.com and locally on 690 AM WSPZ.