The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Troy
Blazers Drop Pitching Duel to Troy Wednesday
2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Despite yielding just three hits and no earned runs, UAB fell 2-1 to undefeated Troy on Wednesday night in Troy, Alabama behind stellar outings by five different Blazer hurlers.
“All of Troy’s hits came in one inning,” head coach Brian Shoop said. “Our pitching staff was fantastic. They did everything we could ever ask and need them to do.”
UAB (1-3, 0-0 C-USA) pitchers struck out 10 and retired the game’s last 18 batters in a row. A tough break for starting pitcher Garrett Whitlock, the three hits and two runs for Troy came against the right-hander.
The Trojans (5-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second following a Blazer miscue. Windham Jackson reached first on a throwing error from Adam Smith and scored on an RBI double to left via Steven Whitaker. Brandon Lockridge tacked on the second run, plating Whitaker with a single through the left side.
Outfielder Brewer Hicklen cut into the Troy lead in the third with a two-out home run to center. The redshirt freshman’s blast cleared the wall just to the left of the hitter’s eye, soaring over the 400 ft. marker.
Beyond the second inning, the UAB bullpen was lights-out. Adam Lamar, Tanner Graham, Dylan Munger and Austin Thomas combined to no-hit the Trojans through the final six innings. The four relievers faced the minimum 18 batters to keep it a one-run contest going into the ninth, but despite an amazing showing by the pen, eight runners left on base by the offense sent the Blazers back to Birmingham with their third loss of the season.
“You have to win games when you only give up two runs, and I would put those two runs on me,” Shoop said. “I had the leftfielder too shallow, and we had a double get over his head on a windy night. But we left runners on at third with less than two outs three times. We have to score those runners if we expect to win.”
Hicklen finished the night 2-for-2 with two walks and the team’s lone RBI. Senior Griffin Gum was also 2-for-2, while designated hitter Riley McCown and pinch hitter Brett Blackwood each registered a hit.
The Blazers return to action at Regions Field on Friday, Feb. 24 to host a three-game series against Ohio. Friday’s game begins at 4 p.m., and first pitch on Saturday is at 2 p.m. UAB wraps up its series with the Bobcats Sunday with a noon start.
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).
