The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Presbyterian
Blazers Sweep Doubleheader Sunday To Win Series
4/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After a heartbreaking loss on Saturday, the UAB baseball team came back to win both games of a Sunday doubleheader at Young Memorial Field and win its three-game series with Presbyterian. The Blazers won game one of the twin bill, 3-2, before going on to win game two, 3-1. Both Kyle Roberson and James Oliver provided the Blazers with superb pitching performances as each pitched seven-inning complete games.
The Blazers improve to 12-17 with Sunday's victories, while Presbyterian is now 8-19.
"We're trying to get better and the great thing about today was that Kyle and James both threw really well," said UAB head coach Brian Shoop. "It was very encouraging and I'm sure it was very good confidence building for them. Baseball is a funny game, we scored 25 runs against Tulane last weekend and then this weekend we scored eight."
Roberson (4-2) got the win in game one after pitching 7.0 innings in which he allowed two runs on eight hits, while striking out four.
Oliver (2-1) was the winner in game two by giving up just one unearned run in 7.0 innings, while allowing just four hits and striking out four.
"It was real big, I had a few bad outings and was struggling a little bit, but I threw a simulated game on Thursday with some of our hitters and I had pretty good stuff then, so I had a lot of confidence going out there today," Oliver said following his second win of the season. "I didn't have a great breaking ball all game so I wasn't getting a lot of strikeouts so they were putting the ball in play and our guys made every play. (Jonathan) Merritt was unbelievable at shortstop and then that fly ball that they got doubled up on was incredible."
Center fielder Cody McMurry was the high point of the Blazer offense on Sunday, combining to go 3-for-5 with two RBI, three runs scored, a home run and a triple.
Presbyterian was paced offensively by center fielder Cory Lyda who completed a terrific series by going a combined 4-for-6 with an RBI on Sunday.
Jesse Harmon (0-5) got the loss for the Blue Hose in game one, while Mitchell Odom (1-3) was the loser in game two.
McMurry provided all of the Blazers' offense in game one as his run-scoring triple gave the team a 1-0 lead in the second inning before he came in to score later in the inning to take a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to right field by designated hitter Luke Stewart.
McMurry then hit a solo home run to deep left-center field in the fourth to break a tie and give UAB the 3-2 lead.
UAB took a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game two when a sacrifice fly by right fielder Brint Hardy scored first baseman Ryan Keedy and then later in the inning, with runners on the corners, designated hitter Billy Lichtner got caught in a rundown trying to steal second but was able to distract the Blue Hose defense long enough to allow McMurry to steal home before getting tagged out.
Crawford singled home catcher Andrew Manning in the third to score the team's third and final run of the game.
UAB will now travel to play at Alabama A&M at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
