The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Ball State
Blazers Split Twin Bill With Ball State
2/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team split its doubleheader with Ball State on Saturday as the Blazers won a high-scoring first game, 11-10, before losing game two, 3-2, at Young Memorial Field. Senior Ryan Keedy was a combined 6-for-10 on the day with three RBI and two runs scored.
UAB (2-1) had to battle back to win game one as the Blazers got seven runs on just two hits in the fourth inning to take a 9-5 lead. Sophomore third baseman Luke Stewart provided the biggest blow of the inning with a three-run home run to right field to mark the Blazers' first homer of the season.
Ball State (1-2) responded as Josh Field's second home run of the game in the seventh inning brought in two runs to cut the deficit to 9-7. The Cardinals then got three more runs across in the eighth thanks to a two-run single by Wayne Bond Jr. to take a 10-9 lead.
With Ball State leading by the same score in the bottom of the ninth, UAB sophomore shortstop Jonathan Merritt stood on first base with two outs after reaching on a fielder's choice. Merritt was then moved up to second on a bunt single by senior left fielder Phil Bell and then driven home to tie the game at 10 on a Keedy double to left center field.
Later in the ninth, with the bases loaded, junior center fielder Cody McMurry dug in and lined a game-winning single to center field to score Bell and seal the 11-10 victory.
Junior Kyle Roberson earned the win on the mound for the Blazers to record his first career victory, while Ball State closer Kyle Heyne was dealt the loss after he came on in relief in the ninth.
Keedy paced the Blazers by going 3-for-6 with three RBI, while Stewart was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Merritt finished game one 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Game two was a lower scoring affair as the teams remained scoreless through six innings.
After BSU scored two in the top of the seventh, UAB was quick to respond with its first offense of the game in the bottom half of the inning as Stewart doubled and then later scored on a single up the middle by redshirt freshman catcher Andrew Manning.
Later in the inning, junior outfielder Austin Taylor, who reached base by singling through the right side, came in to score and tie the game on a ground ball in the infield by Merritt that resulted in a throwing error by Cardinal third baseman T.J. Baumet.
However, Ball State came back around the next inning and it was Baumet who redeemed himself by crossing home plate on ground out by second baseman Jeremy Hazelbaker to score what would prove to be the winning run.
Heyne earned the win in game two to make him the pitcher of record for Ball State in both of Saturday's games. Junior James Oliver was tabbed with the loss for UAB.
Despite getting a no-decision, senior Brandon Wallace had an impressive afternoon on the mound in game two as he gave the Blazers a quality start, going seven innings in which he struck out four and allowed no earned runs.
Keedy and Taylor were both 3-for-4 in game two to lead the Blazers at the plate.
The two teams with play the fourth and final game of the series at Young Memorial Field on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
