Was our play the final two games-- both losses, but with markedly improved play-- in last weekend's series against Texas Tech a true inflection point? Certainly the bats came alive in our back-to-back midweek wins against SFA and a post-season caliber Sam Houston State squad, and the level of play provided a much-needed confidence boost. The question now is whether we can carry that momentum into the all-important conference part of our schedule. Note-- based on W-L record, we're currently dead last in CUSA, and one of only 3 conference teams with below .500 records.

UAB comes into the weekend series 11-4 on the season (2-2 on the road), but the best team they have played so far is Southeastern Louisiana, against whom they took 2 of 3 games. Here's their schedule and results to date...

https://uabsports.com/sports/baseball/schedule

Keeping in mind their somewhat soft schedule to date (ranks #188 according to Warren Nolan), they're hitting a robust .301/.414/.464 as a team, with 18 HRs, 20 doubles/triples and have stolen 17-22 bases. (We're hitting .238/.332.344, with 10 HRs, 32 doubles/triples, 13-18 SB.) Five Blazers regulars are hitting over .300, with 3 hitting over .350. With regards to plate discipline, they have almost as many walks/HBPs as strikeouts (96 vs. 100). By comparison, our batters have collected 86 free passes vs. 166 strikeouts.

On the mound they have a respectable team ERA of 4.11, a BAA of .247 and an almost 2:1 K:BB ratio. (In comparison, our team ERA is 5.73, BAA of .280 and 1.77 K:BB ratio. Their 3 weekend starters have ERAs of 2.28, 2.91 and 8.27.

Here's their complete stats...

https://uabsports.com/documents/2022/3/1...h=baseball

D1baseball appeared to have missed the boat on UAB in their preseason CUSA preview as they picked the Blazers to finish next to last in the conference (ahead of only Marshall)...
https://d1baseball.com/season-preview/20...a-preview/

Quote:UAB
UAB (18-36, 11-21) was last in the league in fielding percentage in 2021, last in homers and 10th in scoring runs, a bad combo. The Blazers had a 5.67 team ERA, which also ranked toward the back half of the conference.

All of that explains why there’s a new Blazers coach: Casey Dunn, who spent the past 17 years at Samford, taking the Bulldogs to an NCAA regional in 2021.

Dunn, a former All-American catcher at Auburn, will start true freshman Henry Hunter at his old position. That’s Step One in rebuilding the Blazers.

Next, Dunn brought in five transfers to plug in as immediate starters, including third baseman Andrew Roberts (Florida); shortstop Matthew Golda (Oklahoma State); and DH Christian Hall (Tennessee-Martin). Dunn also brought in junior-college transfer Peyton Puckett to start in left field, and first baseman Josh Sears comes over from an NAIA school (Freed-Hardeman).

Of the transfers mentioned above, Hall (.408/.446/.714, 3 HRs, 4 doubles/triples, 16 RBIs) and Sears (.309/.412/.582, 4 HRs, 4 doubles, 18 RBIs) are the only ones hitting over .220. The true Freshman catcher, Hunter, is off to a great start (.308/.471/.590, 3 HRs, 6 RBIs, 5-5 SB).