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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team opens up its 2012 campaign on the road with a three-game series against Montevallo. The two teams will face off at Kermit A. Johnson Field on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. Games two and three will be played as a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 3, with the first pitch of the day slated for noon, but subject to change depending on the weather forecast.
UAH is coming off back-to-back 27-win seasons and a trip to the Gulf South Conference Tournament. The tournament trip was short-lived as the Chargers dropped games to Harding, 2-4, and Delta State, 6-7. As a team last year, UAH hit at a .314 clip while limiting opponents to just .287. In addition, the Chargers earned a historical victory in take a game from then-No. 1 West Florida, 9-5, in game two of a three-game series on April 16.
Entering the 2012 season, UAH will take the field with 18 new faces on the 31-man roster, including nine transfers making their debuts with the Chargers. Highlighting the transfers in the incoming class are Dana Wright (pitcher), Justin Pearson (outfield) and Vincent Kortbawi (infield). Freshmen to keep an eye on this season are Chandler Brock (outfield) and Logan Crook (pitcher).
However, it should not go unnoticed that the Chargers return two All-GSC First Team players in seniors Eric Deese and Grant DeBruin. In addition, the duo earned NCBWA All-Region First Team preseason honors while Deese also earned Rawlings/ABCA All-South Region accolades last season, becoming the first Charger to earn regional honors since 2004.
UAH and Montevallo have met on the diamond 47 times with the Chargers holding a slim 25-22 advantage in the all-time series. The Chargers have claimed six of the last 10 contests over the Falcons, but currently carry a two-game losing streak when facing Montevallo on the road. After falling to Montevallo two games to one in the first-ever series meeting in 1996, UAH reeled off 19 wins in the next 23 contests. The teams met last season when the Chargers took 2-of-3 in the season series, posting two wins at home but falling on the road.
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