The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisiana Tech
Two-Out Rally Lifts UAB Baseball Over LA Tech Saturday
3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team rallied to overcome LA Tech, 10-8, in a game of momentum shifts Saturday at Regions Field to claim the series victory in its opening weekend of Conference USA play.
The Blazers, trailing by one run heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, plated three runs on two hits in the frame to reclaim their lead and down the Bulldogs for a second day in a row.
"Baseball is funny, isn't it?" head coach Brian Shoop said. "We scored seven runs in five games prior, then scored seven in two innings yesterday and 10 today to come from behind. It is great to see your kids celebrate and great to see your kids come through at the end."
Senior Evan Peterson led the UAB offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, scoring two and driving in four to provide the game-tying run, and senior Esteban Tresgallo's lone hit of the afternoon brought home what proved to be the game's winning runs.
The Green and Gold jumped out to a healthy lead through the first three innings, plating seven runs against LA Tech starting pitcher Phillip Diehl. After scoring a run on a Peterson groundout in the first, the Blazers followed up with three in the second and three in the third. Peterson tallied an RBI in each of the game's first three frames.
UAB held the lead for the first five innings until momentum shifted in the Bulldogs' favor in the sixth. Blazers starter Tanner Graham ran into trouble with a leadoff walk and a two-run homer to begin the inning. With little damage done, two more walks with no outs put the freshman in a tight spot. LA Tech went on to plate four more runs in the inning between Graham and senior reliever Thomas Lowery.
Despite getting out of the inning with the lead, 7-6, the Bulldogs took control of the lead in the seventh with a two-run single from Jonathan Washam off freshman reliever Garrett Whitlock.
Trailing, 8-7, heading into the eighth inning, the Blazers rallied for three runs on two outs to overcome the opposing offense's back-to-back scoring innings. Adam Smith and Brewer Hicklen drew back-to-back walks, and Peterson made the Bulldogs pay with a single through the middle to tie the contest, 8-8. Tresgallo followed up the run-scoring play with a triple down the line in right, scoring both Peterson and Hicklen.
Whitlock closed out the game with a three-up, three-down ninth to nail down the win. Whitlock earned the win in relief to improve to 2-2, while LA Tech middle reliever Nate Harris (0-2) was charged with the loss.
"Talking today before the game, I didn't like how we were in the dugout when we were down, 5-1, to Ole Miss because we were too down," Shoop said. "It was like we were down by 10, and I especially didn't like how we were in the dugout yesterday when we were up by seven. We were almost giddy. We talked about how it doesn't matter what the score is -- you just keep grinding. Usually, at our game, you get a shot. You don't always come through, but you get a shot if you keep grinding."
Eight different Blazers tallied hits in the 11-hit marathon. Senior Griffin Gum was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Smith's single in the second snapped a seven-game drought for the senior shortstop at the dish.
Tresgallo's triple was the second of the game. Senior Mitch Williams tripled to the right corner to lead off the third.
The Blazers go for the sweep Sunday with a 1 p.m. start. Children's admission is only $1 with the purchase of a regularly priced adult's ticket.
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).
