May 18, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB first baseman Ryan Keedy has been named Conference USA Co-Hitter of the Week and RHP Kyle Roberson has earned the league's Pitcher of the Week honor as announced by the league office Sunday. Keedy set the UAB single-season record for doubles (27) and raised his batting average to one the best regular season figures in Conference USA history (.429) to earn the hitter honor. Roberson threw 7.0 shutout innings to beat 27th-ranked Southern Miss last Friday to earn the pitcher award.

Keedy shares the hitter of the week award with Houston's Bryan Tully.

Keedy hit .647 (11-for-17) with seven runs scored, six RBI, three doubles, a home run and four walks, while striking out just once to lead UAB to a 3-1 record this past week. In UAB's win at Troy on Tuesday, Keedy went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run. His double at Troy made him the UAB record holder for single-season doubles with 25. He went on to add two more doubles on the week to increase his record to 27 doubles.

In UAB's 2-1 series win against 27th-ranked Southern Miss this past weekend, Keedy hit .583 (7-for-12) with five RBI and two doubles. He had two four-hit games during the week and helped UAB clinch its fifth straight Conference USA Championship appearance. He boasted a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .714 on base percentage for the week, while playing error-free defense at first base.

Roberson led UAB to a C-USA Championship clinching victory over 27th-ranked Southern Miss on Friday. Roberson threw 7.0 innings and didn't allow a single run against a red-hot Southern Miss offense to earn the win. He gave up just three hits to hold an opposing batting average of .136. He set a career-high with six strikeouts and allowed just one extra base hit which was a double.

UAB will travel to New Orleans, La. to compete in the 2008 Entergy Conference USA Championship this week. The eighth-seeded Blazers will take on top-seeded Rice in the opening round on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.