BIRMINGHAM – The UAB baseball team will dive deeper into its 13-game home stretch as it hosts Toledo over the weekend for its second consecutive series against a MAC opponent. The Blazers are scheduled to host the Rockets at Regions Field beginning with a 4 p.m. game on Friday and 1 p.m. starts scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Game time, venue and status for each game are subject to change based on field conditions. Fans are highly encouraged to keep a close check for any game updates on uabsports.com and through the UAB baseball social channels.
UAB this season
The Blazers (6-6, 0-0 C-USA) come into the series following a 5-2 midweek victory over in-state rival Troy as they never trailed throughout the game. The win marked the third straight for the Green and Gold over the Trojans after sweeping the home-and-home a season ago. UAB has now won five of its last six games.
At the plate, senior utility man Colton Schultz went yard for the second time this season while freshman infielder Chandler Simpson went 2-for-3 with a run scored. On the bump, senior lefty Austin Bohannon got the start and went 4.2 innings with a strikeout and one run allowed. Junior righty Jordan Bonk picked up his first win as a Blazer in relief after a no run, one hit inning with a strikeout. Grad transfer right hander Mac McCarty earned his fifth save of the season in as many opportunities, allowing just one hit in two innings of work.
On the season, Schultz has had the most production at the dish with a .283 batting average after tallying 13 hits, three doubles, two homeruns, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. Bohannon continues to hold the best ERA of the starters at 1.89 with eight strikeouts in four starts and 19 innings of work.
McCarty is among the elite closers in the country as he is one of 27 pitchers in the nation that boasts a flawless ERA, also tallying 15 strikeouts and just two hits allowed to tie for the NCAA lead in saves with five in 13 innings pitched. The Port Orchard, Wash., native currently leads the country with a 0.23 WHIP and 1.38 hits allowed per nine innings.
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets (1-10, 0-0) have gotten off to a tough start to the season entering the series. Toledo lost its last four games by just a run each. The lone win for the Rockets came over Incarnate Word, defeating the Cardinals 11-10 in extras.
Toledo’s biggest strength is its power at the plate. The Rockets currently lead the MAC with seven homeruns on the year, three of which are courtesy of junior infielder Chris Meyers who’s tied at the top of the MAC. Sophomore infielder Darryn Davis has had the most consistent bat of the group, posting a .432 batting average with 19 hits, four doubles, a triple, a homerun, 12 RBI and eight runs scored. Layne Schnitz-Paxton is currently Toledo’s go-to man on the mound to open a series, holding a 5.79 ERA with 12 strikeouts and nine earned runs on 17 hits in 14 innings pitched.
UAB swept Toledo in the only series between the two sides. The series was played in Birmingham in 2004.
Up Next
The Blazers are scheduled to open next week with Alabama at Regions Field on Tuesday before hosting WKU for the first conference series of the season. Live stat and streaming information for each game is available on the UAB baseball schedule page.
With impending weather concerns, game time, venue and status next week are all subject to change. Fans are highly encouraged to keep a close check on game updates as each game nears. Any game updates will be provided on uabsports.com and through the UAB baseball social channels.
More Information
Fans may secure baseball season tickets by purchasing the 2020 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all baseball, softball and women’s basketball events for the remainder of the academic year. Mini plans and single game tickets are also available here. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
-Go Blazers-
