What : FAU (31-22, 14-13) vs. UAB (16-34, 7-20) When : Thur, May 18th @ 6:00 PM Fri, May 19th @ 3:00 PM Sat, May 20th @ 12:00 PM Where : Young Memorial Field Video : C-USA TV Live Stats : Here UAB Team Site : Here Series : Owls lead 16-12 all-time against the Blazers. Projected Starting Pitchers : UAB – RHP Brooks Walton (3-6, 4.58 ERA) FAU – RHP CJ Williams (2-1, 2.84 ERA) UAB – RHP Blayze Berry (2-3, 4.42 ERA) FAU – RHP Tyler Murphy (1-0, 5.28 ERA) UAB – LHP Carson Myers (3-5, 3.57 ERA) FAU – TBD FAU Notables Getting a crucial series win over Louisiana Tech, the Owls have put themselves in great position to possibly clinch the third seed in the Conference USA Tournament. Taking on UAB for their last series of the regular season, FAU can clinch the third spot by sweeping the Blazers and hoping results from the outside go their way. Even without the sweep, the Owls can finish fourth, fifth, or sixth by winning at least one game in the series. Getting swept would have FAU finishing no worse than seventh, one of the last two spots in the tournament. It is possible for John Schroeder (pictured) to play a big role in helping FAU beat UAB. The catcher has stepped up for the Owls recently, collecting seven RBI on seven hits against Louisiana Tech and Florida Gulf Coast. Also keep an eye on outfielder Nolan Schanuel, who has a .452 average and 18 home runs this year which is good for second and 33rd in the country. Having a strong start from the bullpen would also be key. Pitcher CJ Williams has done well on the mound with a 2.84 ERA as he approaches his sixth start this season. It is likely that Robert Wegielnik, coming off back-to-back C-USA Pitcher of the Week awards, will be important to closing the first games of the series for the Owls’ benefit. The starters (in non-batting order) for game one should be that of the below: RF John Schroeder CF Spencer Rich LF Dylan Goldstein 1B Nolan Schanuel 2B Christian Adams 3B Jackson Ross DH Mitchell Hartigan or Patrick Ward SS Armando Albert C Caleb Pendleton P CJ Williams Blazer Notables Unlike FAU, UAB is fighting for the last spot in the C-USA Tournament. Sitting at the bottom of the standings, the Blazers can finish no better than eighth, and it would require beating FAU in the series and that FIU and Rice sustain defeats in the process. Only one batter is batting .300 or higher for the Blazers: Logan Braunschweig. He is hitting .327 for the season, also leading the team in hits (52), OPS (.840), and slugging percentage (.421). If FAU wishes to complete the sweep, they will have to watch out for Blazer pitcher Carson Myers. Starting in the series finale, Myers has the best ERA (3.57) among the team’s starting pitchers while striking out the most batters with 70. Preventing him from giving UAB momentum will be big for their goal of clinching a higher seed in the tournament. After this series, the Blazers will await the results of remaining C-USA contests to know whether they qualify for the tournament.
