The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Blazers Top Herd, 5-2
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - James Naile and Thomas Lowery combined to strike out 11 hitters and the UAB offense posted a three-run sixth, in what would be the difference in a 5-2 win over Marshall Friday afternoon at Regions Field.
"After you've lost four in a row, it's nice to walk off the field as a winner," head coach Brian Shoop said. "It wasn't a beautiful game by any stretch. Each run we scored was kind of a grind to get it, but we did that and ended up on top. After you lose four in a row, it's important to get a win and nice to walk off the field with one."
Naile held Marshall (6-14, 0-4 C-USA) hitless until the fifth inning, and gave up just the two runs in the sixth in a seven-strikeout performance vs. the Herd. Thomas Lowery improved his team-best record to 4-1 on the year in the final 3.1 innings of work with no hits allowed and four strikeouts.
UAB's (11-8, 1-3 C-USA) first two runs came off a sacrifice fly in the third from Nathan Vincent, before Chase Davis was successful on a straight steal at home to make it a 2-0 contest after five.
Marshall fought back with a two-out rally in the next half, plating the tying runs off a double that dropped in left. Lowery entered the game with two down in the sixth and shutdown the Herd the remaining three innings.
The Blazers responded to Marshall's two runs, putting up three in their half of the sixth. Esteban Tresgallo singled home a run to right field, before back-to-back plays on the infield from Adam Smith and Matt Morse scored the final two runs.
Due to projected rain in the area Sunday, the Blazers and Thundering Herd will play a doubleheader Saturday at Regions Field beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
