The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Blazer Bats, Oliver's Complete Game Lead UAB Past Marshall
4/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 25, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - James Oliver threw his first career nine-inning complete game and his bats provided plenty of support as UAB beat Marshall, 15-3, at Young Memorial Field Friday night. Oliver's strongest supporting cast mate Friday night was second baseman Nick Crawford who went 4-for-4 at the plate and helped turn three doubles plays against the Thundering Herd.
UAB improves to 19-22 (4-9 C-USA) with the win, while Marshall drops to 20-21-1 (7-8-1 C-USA).
Oliver (4-2) gave up three earned runs on eight hits in the game, while striking out a career-high five batters.
"I think it's the first complete game of my life," said Oliver. "To save the bullpen was enormous, especially against a good hitting team like Marshall. They're not hitting .304 for nothing. They can hit so it was big to save our bullpen."
UAB's 15 runs Friday night marks the second consecutive game the Blazers have posted at least 15 runs after they beat Samford, 16-8, Wednesday night.
"With 15 runs it makes it that much easier because I could just rare back and throw fastballs and challenge them," Oliver said. "You don't have to be quite as fine. You can be more in the middle of the plate."
Crawford not only finished with a career-most four hits at the plate, but also drove in and scored two runs and added a sacrifice bunt to improve his Conference USA leading total to 13 for the year.
First baseman Ryan Keedy was 2-for-3 with four RBI and a home run, while center fielder Cody McMurry was 2-for-5 with four RBI and a home run.
Andrew Blain (2-4) started on the mound for Marshall and gave up eight runs to earn the loss.
Third baseman Brandon Cassamassima led the Herd by going 2-for-3 with a home run.
McMurry's three-run home run in the bottom of the first gave UAB a 3-0 lead in the game before Marshall came back and tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the third with Cassamassima providing his solo home run to score the final run of the inning.
UAB quickly regained its lead, 5-3, in the bottom half of the third thanks to a two-run home run over the left field wall by Keedy.
The Blazers went on to close the door on the Thundering Herd in the fifth by getting eight runs home on just three hits to take a 13-3 lead. Three hit batters contributed to the big inning for UAB, while Crawford laced a two-run double down the left field line for the biggest hit of the inning.
UAB added two final runs in the seventh to pull away for the 15-3 win.
Game two of the series will get underway at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Young Memorial Field.
