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March 24, 2008

Huddleston pitches well in UAB’s loss to Memphis

By Michael Cummings

There was one silver lining for UAB’s baseball team in the Blazers’ 5-2 loss to Memphis last Friday.

After starter Brandon Wallace gave up five runs on 10 hits through 4-2/3 innings of work, former Cullman High standout Blake Huddleston tossed 3-1/3 innings of scoreless relief, keeping the Blazers in the game until the end.

The freshman right-hander was efficient in relief, throwing 41 pitches while striking out three and walking one. He surrendered just one hit and kept two inherited baserunners from scoring.

Entering the season, Huddleston hadn’t pitched since his junior year at Cullman High, when the Bearcats reached the 5A title game. Tommy John’s Surgery kept him from pitching last season, when Cullman took the state title.

This year, Huddleston has been building up his arm strength while working out of the bullpen. After his latest outing, he said his arm is steadily strengthening.

“My arm felt great,” he said of his outing against Memphis, adding his changeup was working well. “I located my pitches really well. All my pitches were working.

“This fall I didn’t get to throw that many innings, I had to take it slow. This spring my arm strength came back, and I built it up.”

Huddleston said working out of the bullpen is fine for now — though that could soon change.

“I’ll probably get some starts here soon,” Huddleston said. “We’ll be playing five games a week soon, so I’ll be moving into the rotation. That’s one of my big goals.”

The Blazers host Troy University and Alabama A&M; today and Wednesday before opening a three game weekend set against Tulane on Friday.

“I’ll get in there whenever I’m needed,” he said. “If not, I’ll be one of the first ones out of the pen.”

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