The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Ohio State
Gum's Grand Slam Leads UAB Past Ohio State
5/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senior outfielder Griffin Gum's grand slam in the second inning lifted the UAB baseball team over Ohio State, 6-3, Tuesday night at Bill Davis Stadium.
Gum finished the night 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. The grand slam was his first home run of the season, and it's the first grand slam since 2014 when Gum blasted one against Marshall. The homer helped the Green and Gold hand the Buckeyes their first home non-conference loss of the year.
UAB jumped ahead, 1-0, in the first inning following a couple of hits. Gum blooped a single into right to lead off the game, and freshman Carter Pharis delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate Gum.
Ohio State struck back in the bottom of the inning with a run of its own, tying the game 1-1, but Gum quickly untied it with one swing of the bat. A couple of walks and a single by Mitch Williams loaded the bases, and Gum launched a no-doubter to left.
If this Gum homer was a cup of coffee, it'd be a GRANDE!
Blazers lead the Buckeyes 5-1 in the second. #GoBlazers pic.twitter.com/KHF1nDTs1q— UAB Baseball (@UAB_Baseball) May 3, 2016
Ohio State threatened in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded, but a stellar defensive grab by shortstop Adam Smith kept a few runs from scoring and ended the inning. It wasn't until the fourth that the Buckeyes plated another run. Center fielder Troy Montgomery hit a solo home run off reliever Tanner Graham to cut the UAB lead to 5-2.
The Blazers got the run back in the fifth with the help of a couple of a hit and wild pitch. Pharis led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Ohio State reliever Austin Woodby. With the freshman standing in scoring position, Jacob Armstrong lined a single to center to extend the UAB lead to 6-2.
An Ohio State run in the sixth cut UAB's lead to three, but junior reliever Thomas Lowery was nearly lights-out in the final two frames. The left-hander gave up two hits, but struck out three to secure the win. Graham (3-5) picked up the win in relief while Buckeyes' starter Ryan Feltner (1-3) received the loss. Lowery earned his eighth save.
The two teams wrap up the two-game set Wednesday night with another 5:35 p.m. first pitch. Fans can follow the game online with free live stats, and watch live online on the Big 10 Network ($). Links to both can be found on the UAB baseball schedule page at UABSports.com.
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).
