May 17, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After helping lead UAB to a series victory over No. 4 Rice, the highest-ranked opponent the Blazers have ever won a series against, junior catcher/designated hitter Digger Towe has been named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week.

Towe lifted UAB to a 7-5 victory over Rice in Thursday's series opener with a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winner. Asked to pinch hit with two runners on and two outs, Towe sent the second pitch he saw from Rice's Jordan Rogers deep over the right field fence.

He went on to hit .750 (6-for-8) for the series, hitting safely in each game and also walking twice for an .800 on-base percentage. Towe drove in six runs and scored five times in the series while posting a 1.250 slugging percentage and helping the Blazers snap Rice's streak of 13 straight conference series victories.

In Saturday's series finale, Towe collected three hits, including an RBI double, and scored three times in UAB's come-from-behind 15-12 victory.

This is Towe's second C-USA Hitter of the Week honor this season, having earned the award on March 16 when he was also named the Pro-Line National Hitter of the Week. Teammate Luke Stewart was named the league's hitter of the week on March 30, and fellow Blazer Kyle Roberson was tabbed pitcher of the week on April 20.

UAB (30-24, 11-12 C-USA) earned the No. 6 seed in this week's Conference USA Championship at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Blazers will take on third-seeded Houston in the tournament's first game Wednesday at 9 a.m. (CT).