The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jacksonville State
Blazers Down Gamecocks 8-5 To Split Midweek Series
5/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 6, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Jamal Austin collected three hits and scored three runs Wednesday as the UAB baseball team avenged a Tuesday loss to Jacksonville State with an 8-5 win over the Gamecocks at Young Memorial Field.
The Blazers scored three runs in the seventh inning to break open a 4-4 tie on their way to the victory, earning a split of the four-game season series between the teams. UAB improved to 27-21 with the win, while Jacksonville State fell to 28-17.
Brint Hardy kick-started the UAB three-run seventh with a hard single up the middle in his first at-bat of the game. Hardy missed the first six innings for a final exam and was immediately inserted as a pinch hitter when he arrived at the ballpark.
After his leadoff hit, Hardy stole his NCAA-leading 41st base of the season, moved to third on a bunt single from Austin and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a Jacksonville State error. Jonathan Merritt plated the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, and Nick Crawford completed the scoring for the frame when he stole third base and came home to score on a throwing error, putting UAB on top 7-4.
In addition to Hardy's absence for the first six innings, UAB played without starting left fielder Cody McMurry, who sat the game out after injuring his ankle Tuesday. It was the first game this season that Hardy and McMurry have not started.
"After losing last night and playing without Cody and Brint, I thought our kids fought hard," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "Brint gave us a big lift when he got here, and we were able to make some pitches when we needed to, especially Mark McKinley."
McKinley earned his first win of the season in a relief effort for the Blazers after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings. The right-hander struck out five batters for a UAB pitching staff that fanned 13 Gamecocks in the contest. Jordan Beistline took the loss for Jacksonville State, surrendering three runs -- one earned -- in the decisive seventh inning.
The teams combined for seven errors in the game, which allowed UAB to score three unearned runs and Jacksonville State to score one.
As a team, UAB stole seven bases on the night, matching its second-highest total of the season. The Blazers stole nine bases against Jacksonville State back on March 3.
Andrew Manning finished with a pair of hits for UAB, while Jonathan Merritt drove in a team-high three runs. In addition to his seventh-inning sacrifice fly, Merritt also tallied a sac fly in the first and an RBI single in the third to help UAB open up a 4-0 lead through three innings.
Jacksonville State got three of those runs back in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Jay Davis, and the Gamecocks tied the game with a run in the sixth.
After UAB took the lead in the seventh, the Blazers added an unearned run in the eighth to open up an 8-4 advantage. Jacksonville State picked up a run in the ninth and had two runners on base when UAB reliever Nick Graffeo picked up his second strikeout of the inning to close out the game.
Kyle Bluestein finished with three hits to lead Jacksonville State offensively, while Davis drove in three runs for the Gamecocks.
UAB returns to action this weekend with a road trip to Tulane for a three-game Conference USA series. First pitch in Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. (CT) in New Orleans.
