The Small Things Behind the Big Swings Power UAB’s Offensive Surge
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - March 26, 2026
UAB baseball coach Casey Dunn said it before the season and he still believes that his team can’t stand at the plate expecting to win games by hitting home runs. However, the numbers suggest that the Blazers are pretty good at producing the long ball.
Through 25 games, UAB leads the American Conference and is tied for 16th in the country with 44 home runs. Sophomore John Paul Head is leading the conference and tied for seventh in the nation with 13 home runs. Ten different players hit at least two home runs thus far with Alex Dupuy and Wesley Helms each hitting five thus far.
Yet, the approach is that home runs are just part of what the Blazers are trying to do offensively.
“I think the biggest thing we've done is we've capitalized on opportunities pretty well,” Dunn said earlier this week as his team prepared for this weekend’s American Conference home opening series against Tulane at Young Memorial Field. “You know, when other teams have struggled, whether they've given us walks or made errors, we've been able to capitalize behind it. There's been days where we've been able to run the bases as well or use the bunt game (or) hit-and-run game. We're trying to be a lot more aggressive offensively because while we've hit some home runs, we're really not just a stand up there and bang it kind of team.”
Dunn said a good example came last week when UAB salvaged one game out of the three-game series at East Carolina with a Sunday win.
“I think our guys saw that Friday (and Saturday) at East Carolina, you know, we face some good arms, man,” Dunn said. “You can't just stand up there and hit. And, you know, Sunday we did a really good job of playing baseball and being more aggressive offensively and realizing that's kind of a style we have to play to beat a good team.”
UAB batters had 11 hits, drew six walks, were hit by three pitches, had a pair of sacrifices and stole a pair of bases in the 11-4 win. The Blazers hit two home runs – a solo shot by Helms in the second inning and Head’s two-run shot in the ninth inning – but little things are what led them to the win.
Head has sparked the offense in his first season as a full-time starter. The Vestavia Hills High graduate had just one home run in 13 games as a true freshman. Prior to this season, only three UAB players had three home runs in a game in the history of the program. He did it twice in three games and also had a pair of 2-home run games this season. He also leads the Blazers in batting average (.322), RBIs (30) and walks (tied with Landon Beaver with 22) and is second in hits (29).
But the key has been production throughout the lineup. Shortstop Baylor Roberts, who generally hits ninth, is currently riding a 15-game streak of reaching base. During that time he has 18 hits, 13 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Kevin Hall Jr. (.319), Andrew Hunt (.313) and Dupuy (.309) behind Head at the top of the team’s batting average. Brady Waugh (.289) and Max Price (.279) are tied for second on the team in RBIs with 24 each.
UAB (15-10 overall, 1-2 American Conference) and Tulane (14-12 overall, 2-1 American Conference) play at Young Memorial Field on Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.