UTSA (17-17, 9-10 Conference USA) comes into the series having won two of four with Rice last weekend. The Roadrunners sit in fourth place in the Western Division in the league standings, just behind Middle Tennessee (10-9-1) for third. UTSA is seventh in the overall standings entering the weekend. UAB (6-14) sits 3.5 games back of the Roadrunners for fourth place in the division.
The Roadrunners have hit .299/.396/.473 as a team in 2021 with 62 doubles, four triples, 43 homers and 269 runs scored in 34 games, stealing 23 bases. On the mound, UTSA has a 5.10 team ERA in 284 innings, allowing 298 hits and walking 131, striking out 260.
UTSA has been led at the plate by senior infielder Griffin Paxton, who hits for a .359 average with 10 doubles, five homers and 30 RBI. Junior shortstop Joshua Lamb has hit .333 with 10 doubles, five homers and 34 RBI. Senior catcher Nick Thornquist owns a .325 average with seven homers and 30 RBI, with junior outfielder Dylan Rock hitting .323 with six homers and 27 RBI, stealing seven bases.
On the mound, UTSA has seen senior righty Hunter Mason (5-5, 4.41 ERA) lead the team in wins and appearances. Right-hander Luke Malone (2-2, 4.29 ERA) and lefty Grant Miller (0-2, 6.75 ERA) each have appeared in double-figure games in relief. Malone, Simon Miller (3-1, 3.55 ERA), John Chomko (0-2, 5.48 ERA), Reece Easterling (1-0, 5.88 ERA) and Kobe Jaramillo (1-0, 6.26 ERA) have each made at least four starts.
UAB (13-27, 6-14 C-USA) comes into the weekend after a series loss at Middle Tennessee. In its last home weekend, the Blazers split with league power Florida Atlantic in Birmingham. The Blazers have hit .241/.320/.340 as a team with 40 doubles, seven triples, 21 homers and 199 runs scored in 40 games, stealing 51 bases. Defensively, UAB has fielded .960, turning 21 double plays and throwing out 12 of 57 would-be basesetalers. UAB has a 5.88 team ERA in 324.2 innings, walking 164 and striking out 228.
Chandler Simpson leads the team with a .314 average, stealing 18 bases. Zack Davis and John Marc Mullins are tied with four homers each to pace the Blazers offensive attack. Jess Davis has hit .274 with three homers, 25 RBI and 18 steals. Riley Davis (3-3, 2.77 ERA), Tyler O'Clair (3-4, 4.40 ERA), Carson Knight (2-4, 12.03 ERA) and Austin Bohannon (0-3, 3.86 ERA) have each made at least eight starts for the Blazers. In relief, Brady Greene (3-2, 2.03 ERA), Collin Taylor (0-1, 3.86 ERA), Evan Ingram (0-3, 6.00 ERA) and Dylan Cunningham (1-3, 7.88 ERA) heave each appeared in double-figure games.
UTSA won the only series meeting with UAB, a road three-game set in Birmingham in 2019. UTSA won the opener, 12-1, before falling in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, 7-3 and bouncing back to claim the rubber match, 4-1 in the nightcap.
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