The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Kennesaw State
Blazers Drop Series Opener, 8-4, To Kennesaw State
3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State hit two home runs and scored seven of its eight runs with two outs to defeat the UAB baseball team, 8-4, Friday at Stillwell Baseball Stadium.
"It looked like Alex (Luna) was up in the zone today and it looked like his breaking ball was flat," head coach Brian Shoop said. "If you're up in the zone against a good-hitting team, they make you pay. From this vantage point that looked like not what Alex has been, but credit to Kennesaw State for taking advantage of that."
Luna went four innings with six runs allowed, with three strikeouts and two walks. Kennesaw State (7-4) posted 13 hits and UAB (8-3) tallied five in the series opener.
The Owls collected two runs in the second, third and fourth, off singles in the second, and two-run shots in the next two frames.
Jeremy Howell and Grant Williams both singled to push a run across in the second, as Luna worked out of the inning to strand two runners.
The third got started with a single to center, before Kennesaw State's cleanup hitter struck out and was called for batters interference on a steal attempt on a throw down to second. Following Chris McGowan being hit by a pitch, Colin Bennett sent a deep ball to right, extending the Owls' lead to 4-0 through three.
Kennesaw State's two runs in the fourth also came with two outs, as Kal Simmons homered to right, plating two more to make it 6-0 after four.
UAB scratched a run across in the fifth off a Chase Davis sacrifice fly to right. Kennesaw State responded though, off an RBI single from Williams to make it a 7-1 contest after five.
The Owls scratched another across in the sixth after a throwing error on a stolen base, which plated their eighth run of the game.
UAB came to life in the eighth, scoring three runs off four hits to cut the Owls' lead to 8-4 midway through the frame. Evan Peterson doubled down the line in right for the Blazers' second hit of the game, as Griffin Gum followed with a walk. Jeff Schalk then singled to right, a ball that the Owls' fielder bobbled, allowing Peterson to score and Gum to advance to second. Esteban Tresgallo drove in the second run off a sacrifice fly to right, and Adam Smith followed two batters later with a bunt to score Schalk and make it an 8-4 game.
Peterson went 2-for-5 at the plate to lead the Blazers offensively. Adam Lamar made his first appearance of 2015 on the mound, going three innings with four strikeouts and one earned run allowed, while Sam Kelley worked the final inning with a walk, strikeout and hit allowed.
The two squads return to Stillwell Stadium Saturday for game two of the series at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.
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).
