The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Arkansas State
UAB, Arkansas State Split Saturday Doubleheader
2/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB and Arkansas State closed out their three-game series Saturday with a doubleheader at Regions Field, splitting the two contests. The Blazers claimed the first game with a 5-0 shutout, while the Red Wolves used a three-run ninth inning to walk away with a 5-2 victory.
Game One - UAB 5, Arkansas State 0
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Ruggles pitched a six-inning, one-hit gem en route to the Blazers' shutout victory. The left-hander walked two and whiffed six to pick up his first win in his season debut.
Griffin Gum put UAB's first two runs on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and an RBI double in the fourth. The senior outfielder went 2-for-3 while also scoring a run.
Despite Gum's performance at the plate, freshman Carter Pharis stole the spotlight with an RBI double in the fourth -- his first collegiate hit -- and a solo home run to left in the sixth.
A fielding error allowed the Blazers' fifth run of the game to score, and junior reliever Thomas Lowery made sure the Red Wolves did not attempt a late-inning comeback. The lefty allowed just two hits over three innings, striking out four to guarantee the win for Ruggles.
Game Two - UAB 2, Arkansas State 5
The series finale was a nine-inning nail-biter. Arkansas State and UAB entered the final frame tied 2-2 following five scoreless innings.
The Blazers plated runs in the first and second innings to jump out to a 2-0 advantage. Gum batted in his third run of the afternoon with an RBI groundout in the first, and senior Evan Peterson singled home a run in the second.
Arkansas State battled back in the third with two runs on two hits, knotting the contest at 2-2.
Despite the UAB pitching staff holding the Red Wolves to just four hits and three earned runs, a hit and error in the ninth inning allowed three opposing runs to cross.
Adam Lamar started the game, going 2.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits. Austin Thomas threw the majority of the contest, going six innings on one hit and one earned run. Junior Dylan Munger recorded the final out in the top of the ninth.
UAB out-hit Arkansas State 12-4 with five Blazers recording a multihit game. Brewer Hicklen, Riley McCown, Adam Smith and Peterson each tallied two hits, while Gum led the way with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.
The Blazers return to action Tuesday, Feb. 23, when they host in-state foe Jacksonville State at 4 p.m. at Regions Field. UAB visits Troy for a 6 p.m. game Feb. 24 before returning home to Regions Field to host Ohio from Feb. 26-28.
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 social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
