The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Late Homer Knocks Off Baseball
3/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 23, 2012
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Alfredo Brito hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to break a 4-4 tie and give Marshall University a 7-4 win over the UAB baseball team on Friday night in the first Conference USA action of the season.
"That was a typical Conference USA game. A battle right to the end and it usually comes down to a pitch here and a pitch there with both teams having opportunities," head coach Brian Shoop said. "You didn't want to go 2-0 to (Brito) and we did and we've had trouble keeping Marshall in the park here in the past and a homer got us tonight."
UAB (14-9, 0-1 C-USA) fell behind 4-0, but stormed a comeback scoring once in the bottom of the fifth on a Harry Clark no doubt solo homer and three more times in the sixth to even the game.
The sixth inning featured a two-out rally, with three Blazer batters knocking run scoring hits in a row. Tanner Bryant and Clark each smacked RBI singles and Keith DePew capped off the inning with a ringing RBI double to right-center field.
"The kids battled back great and we certainly had a chance to win. It seems like Marshall and UAB play close games all the time and we will see what happens tomorrow," Shoop said.
Dillon Napoleon made his sixth start of the season for the Blazers, working the first 6.2 innings, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eight hits. He walked three and struck out three as the right-hander did not figure in the decision.
Marshall's Aaron Blair matched Napoleon, working the first 6.0 innings giving up four runs off seven hits with six punch outs.
Thundering Herd reliever Josh King (2-1) earned the win, pitching two scoreless frames with six strikeouts. Fellow bullpen arm Jesse Fernandez fired a perfect ninth to pick up his third save.
Chase Mallard (1-2) was saddled with the loss for UAB.
Clark finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, including his first home run of his collegiate career. Bryant added a pair of hits and a RBI and Jeff Schalk chipped in with two hits in the loss.
Marshall improved to 10-11 and 1-0 in league play with the victory.
The two teams return to Young Memorial Field on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT.
