May 15, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Entering the weekend with a half-game lead over Memphis for the eighth and final spot in next week's C-USA Championship in New Orleans, the UAB baseball team hosts 27th-ranked Southern Miss this weekend at Young Memorial Field. The series kicks off with a doubleheader Friday at 3:00 p.m. with the series finale, senior day, slated for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday's game can be heard locally on WSPZ 690 AM and through UABsports.com on All-Access as David Crane will call the final game of the regular season.

The Blazers enter the weekend with a record of 22-31 (5-16 C-USA) having won two straight thanks to holding their last two opponents to a combined five runs, while scoring 27.

Southern Miss, currently in third place in the Conference USA standings, comes in with a record of 37-16 (14-7 C-USA) and will look to not only improve its seeding at next week's C-USA Championship but also improve its positioning for an NCAA Regional.

UAB will send Kyle Roberson (4-6, 5.52) to the mound to get the series started Thursday night, while Mitch Kloskowski (6-5, 5.71) will get the nod on Friday. Kloskowski is coming off a seven-inning complete game victory at UCF last Sunday. The Blazers have not yet announced their Saturday starter.

Southern Miss will oppose with Todd McInnis (6-2, 5.12) on Thursday, Barry Bowden (7-2, 1.50) on Friday and Brian Leach (2-1, 5.34) on Saturday.

Blazer first baseman Ryan Keedy is looking to lock up the Conference USA batting title this weekend. Keedy is currently batting .420 for the year with Diego Seastrunk of Rice trailing in second place at .391.

In addition to leading the league in batting average, Keedy also paces C-USA in on base percentage (.520), hits (86), doubles (25) and total bases (138), while ranking second in RBI (60).

Right fielder Brint Hardy has come on strong to end the season and has bumped his batting average up to .328 after hitting .452 with three homers and nine RBI in the team's last 10 games. Hardy leads UAB and ranks fifth in Conference USA with 21 stolen bases.

Southern Miss' offense is dependant on the long ball as the Golden Eagles have clubbed 63 home runs this season with Michael Ewing leading the way with 10. James Ewing leads the club with a .378 batting average to go along with five homers. Brian Dozier is batting .350 and leads the team in RBI with 44.

UAB will have to look to hold the lead late this weekend as Southern Miss closer Tyler Conn leads the nation with 15 saves and boasts and ERA of 0.61.

Southern Miss leads the all-time series against UAB, 47-24.