NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (7-6) will host UAB (6-6) for a weekend series at E.S. Rose Park. Belmont is looking to regroup after a 15-2 loss to Kennesaw State Wednesday night. UAB defeated UT-Martin Wednesday night 12-11 in ten innings. Games on Friday and Saturday will be available to stream on ESPN+. Links to ESPN+ and radio broadcasts are available
here.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday
UAB: Blayze Berry (Sr. | RHP): 1-0, 3 GS, 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, 17 K, 8 BB
Last start (3/2 vs. North Alabama): 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 7 R, 6 K, 1 BB
Belmont: Will Pryor (So. | RHP): 1-1, 3 GS, 15.1 IP, 4.11 ERA, 22 K, 5 BB
Last start (3/1 vs. Little Rock): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 11 K, 2 BB
Saturday
UAB: Colin Patterson (So. | RHP): 0-0, 4 G, 1 GS, 12.79 ERA, 6.1 IP, 11 K, 6 BB
Last start (3/2 vs. North Alabama): 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 7 R, 7 K, 3 BB
Belmont: Dominic Baratta (Rs-Sr. | LHP): 0-1, 4 G, 9.1 IP, 4.28 ERA, 8 K, 7 BB
Last appearance (3/6 vs. Kennesaw State): 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 1 BB
Sunday
UAB: Colin Daniel (Fr. | RHP): 2-0, 3 GS, 23 IP, 2.35 ERA, 12 K, 4 BB
Last start (3/3 vs. North Alabama): W, CG, 10 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 0 BB
Belmont: Joe Ruzicka (So. | RHP): 2-0, 3 GS, 16 IP, 2.25 ERA, 10 K, 6 BB
Last start (3/3 vs. Little Rock: W, 8 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
MATCHUP HISTORY VS. UAB
- Belmont is 1-6 all-time against UAB.
- The first matchup between these teams was February 16, 1999, when Belmont was in their second year of transitioning to NCAA Division I. UAB won the game, 8-4.
- Belmont's last win was on March 11, 2022, in a 2-1 ball game.
- This is the first time UAB has traveled to the Music City since February 20, 2001.
SCOUTING REPORT: UAB BLAZERS
- The Blazers come to town riding a three-game win streak.
- Two players hold a .300+ batting average: Jake Smallwood (.366) and Brayton Brown (.300).
- Tyler Waugh hit a walk-off home run Wednesday night against UT-Martin.
- UAB was picked to finish tenth in the American Conference preseason poll.
ACE IN PRYOR
Will Pryor was tabbed the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week for March 5
th. Pryor had himself a day last Friday against Little Rock. The sophomore tossed a career-high seven innings and set a new personal best with 11 strikeouts. Pryor had five strikeouts through the first three innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, which was the only time Little Rock left runners stranded on base. His pitch sequencing led to three consecutive 1-2-3 innings from the fourth through sixth innings, and he finished with four on the day. It was Pryor's most effective outing of the season, as he threw only 84 pitches. Belmont's ace now holds a 4.11 season ERA through 15.1 innings of work, and three starts. He leads the team and is second in the MVC with 22 strikeouts. Pryor is eighth in the MVC in opponent batting average (.226).
SUNDAYS WITH JOE
Sophomore
Joe Ruzicka was moved into the weekend rotation for the series against Little Rock. He made the most of his start on March 3, as he went a career-high eight innings, allowed three hits, two earned runs, and struck out five Trojans. He ranks second on the team and sixth in the MVC with a 2.25 ERA. He leads the MVC in opponent batting average (.145), and is one of two pitchers to keep opponents under .200. His 16 innings pitched is the eighth-most in the MVC, and eight hits are the second-fewest allowed by an MVC pitcher.
BULLPEN WATCH
Hank Liss (Fr. | RHP): 1-0, 5 G (leads team), 11 IP (fourth on the team), 1.64 ERA (leads team), 10 strikeouts, .238 opponent batting average.
2/16 vs. Eastern Michigan: SV, 3 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K
2/24 vs. #21 South Carolina: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 K
2/27 vs. Tennessee Tech: W, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 K, 1 BB
Bill Duby (Gr. | RHP): 1-1, 3 G, 7 IP, 2.57 ERA, 11 K (second on team), 2 BB
2/18 vs. Eastern Michigan: W, 2 IP, 0 H, 2 K
2/24 vs. #21 South Carolina: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K
3/1 vs. Little Rock: Career-high 5 strikeouts
BRODEY IS BACK
Graduate first baseman
Brodey Heaton has been the backbone of Belmont's lineup. He enters the weekend series with a team-high .295 batting average, tied for a team-high three home runs, and is third with eight RBIs. He held a team-high 11-game hit streak, which ended against Kennesaw State on Wednesday night.
SLAUGHTERING BASEBALLS
Sam Slaughter has homered in back-to-back games for the Bruins. Both of his solo home runs traveled 400+ feet with 100+ mph exit velocities. Mar. 3 vs. Little Rock: 411 feet and 108 mph exit velo. Mar. 6 vs. Kennesaw State: 433 feet and 110 mph exit velocity.
ON DECK
Belmont will host UT-Martin on Wednesday, March 13, at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. Coverage of the game can be found at
belmontbruins.com.
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