The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Blazers Split Season Series with Alabama
4/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A four-run seventh inning tied things up in Tuesday night’s game at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, but the UAB baseball team was bested 7-6 with a late-inning score by Alabama en route to a midweek loss.
The Blazers and Crimson Tide both both notched seven hits in the contest, but five unearned runs charged to the UAB defense led to a split in the two-game season series.
The Blazers took an early 1-0 lead in a whirlwind of a first inning. UAB swiped four bases with redshirt freshman Brewer Hicklen leading the charge. The outfielder stole second, and followed up by taking third in a successful double-steal with fellow outfielder Griffin Gum. Hicklen scored on a fielder’s choice batted by Esteban Tresgallo.
The lead did not last long for the Green and Gold, however, as the Crimson Tide plated four unearned runs in the bottom of the first against UAB starting pitcher Stephen Baggett. The senior allowed just two hits, but a would-be groundout was bobbled to extend the frame.
Senior shortstop Adam Smith helped the Blazers cut into the three-run lead in the top of the second with an RBI single to left to score Kyle Davis, but Alabama answered back in its half of the frame with a fifth run. Redshirt junior reliever Cory Eller issued a walk to Chandler Taylor to stretch the Tide’s lead to 5-2.
The Crimson Tide added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth against UAB reliever Garrett Whitlock. Chandler Avant doubled to the gap in left-center, pushing Hunter Webb across to extend the lead to 6-2.
The pitching duo of Adam Lamar and Dylan Munger held the Alabama lineup scoreless through three innings, allowing the UAB offense a chance to rally in the seventh. Back-to-back hits from Riley McCown and Davis set up another RBI single for Smith. Hicklen then laced an RBI single to score Davis, and freshman Carter Pharis doubled to right to plate the game-tying run.
Knotted at six runs each going into the eighth, Alabama used a two-out triple from Chandler Avant to take a 7-6 advantage. The Tide bullpen then turned to Thomas Burrows to retire the UAB side in the ninth and secure the win.
Alabama reliever Matt Foster picked up the win to improve to 4-2 and Burrows got his eighth save of the year. UAB left-hander Thomas Lowery received the loss to fall to 0-3.
Davis and Smith were each 2-for-4 to lead the UAB lineup in the hits’ column, while Hicklen was 1-for-3 with a couple of stolen bases.
The Blazers take a two-day break before returning to Conference USA play Friday night at Young Memorial Field. UAB welcomes Southern Miss to campus for a three-game series in the Magic City.
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).
