What : FAU (22-20, 9-9 AAC) vs. Tulane (20-23, 7-11 AAC) When : Fri, May 3rd @ 6:30 PM Sat, May 4th @ 4:00 PM Sun, May 5th @ 12:00 PM Where : FAU Baseball Stadium Video : ESPN+ Live Stats : Here UAB Team Site : Here Series : Owls lead 18-13 all-time against the Blazers. Projected Starting Pitchers : UAB – RHP Blayze Berry (6-2, 2.71 ERA) FAU – RHP CJ Williams (5-2, 2.71 ERA) UAB – RHP Braxton Shelton (1-5, 5.01 ERA) FAU – RHP Brandon Smith (2-2, 6.00 ERA) UAB – RHP Colin Daniel (7-3, 3.18 ERA) FAU – LHP Trey Beard (2-3, 6.75 ERA) Owl Notables Following a crucial series victory against USF on the road, elevating to a tie for fourth place in the AAC Standings, it’s imperative for FAU to protect their home field while they prepare to face UAB. The lineup boasts four Owls batting .275 or better, with Christian Adams leading the charge with a .317 average. Adams also tops the team charts with eight homers and 51 runs scored. Both Adams and John Schroeder (pictured below via Rick Henderson) are in stellar form entering this series, boasting averages of .400 and .350 over the last 10 games. Adams showcased his power with two homers last weekend against USF, while Schroeder contributed three RBI in Tuesday’s clash with Florida. On the defensive front, FAU has recorded four shutouts and permits just 8.48 hits per game, a statistic that ranks 35th in the country. CJ Williams leads the pitching staff with an impressive 2.71 ERA, the third-best in the American and 40th nationwide. Williams also leads in strikeouts with 60. Keep a close eye on both Williams and Danny Trehey, a reliable reliever who has logged 19 innings. Notably, there’s a bullpen adjustment in the works for FAU. Brandon Smith is slated to make his first weekend start on Saturday, taking the place of Tyler Murphy. In his last two midweek starts against FIU and Miami, Smith delivered a combined eight scoreless innings. With FAU’s recent struggles on Saturdays, having been outscored 30-17 over the past three games, changing the starting pitcher could prove to be the solution needed. Following this series, the Owls host a doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast on May 7th starting at 2:00 PM. The games will be broadcast on FAU TV. The starters (in non-batting order) for game one should be that of the below: RF John Schroeder CF Spencer Rich LF Jalen DeBose 1B Emilio Gonzalez 2B Christian Adams 3B Patrick Ward DH Carter Brady SS Brando Leroux C Andrew McKenna P CJ Williams Blazer Notables The Blazers aim to maintain their winning momentum, having secured six victories in their last 10 games. Currently, they occupy the ninth spot in the league standings as they head into the weekend. In terms of offensive strategy, UAB doesn’t heavily rely on the long ball, having hit just 29 home runs this season. Leading the charge is junior outfielder Logan Braunschweig, boasting an impressive .327 average. Recent performances from Tyler Harrington are noteworthy, having played in four of the last five games with a .500 batting average and nine RBIs. Braunschweig has also been a standout player, hitting .450 with five RBIs and a stolen base. Effectively limiting their offensive contributions will be crucial for FAU’s success. On the pitching front, senior Blayze Berry boasts a solid 2.71 ERA. Notably, he tallied nine strikeouts against Charlotte last Friday and 12 earlier in the season against Wichita State. FAU batters should approach their at-bats with caution, considering Berry’s ability to rack up strikeouts. After this series, UAB returns to Alabama to face Jacksonville State on May 7th at 4:00 PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
