The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Blazers Drop Series Opener to Thundering Herd
5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Despite out-hitting Marshall 7-5, the UAB baseball team was bested, 5-1, Friday night at Appalachian Power Park. The Thundering Herd took advantage of timely hits and three Blazers’ errors en route to the Conference USA victory.
Freshman Kyle Davis and senior Stephen Baggett split the pitching duties at the hitter-friendly park, both throwing four innings each, but Marshall needed just Chase Boster. The starter threw nine innings, allowing just one run on seven hits.
UAB’s lone run came quickly in the top of the first inning. With two outs on the board, Brewer Hicklen doubled down the line in left, and Carter Pharis followed up with an RBI single to score his fellow freshman.
Davis held the Herd scoreless in the bottom of the first but fell into trouble in the second. Ryne Dean led off the frame with a solo home run to right, and two more runs scored with the help of a sac bunt and throwing error.
Davis gave way for Baggett with no outs in the fourth, following a walk and hit by pitch. Baggett pitched the Blazers free of the fourth and threw a scoreless fifth, but a couple of insurance runs against the left-hander in the sixth gave Marshall its 5-1 advantage.
The offense delivered hits but at inopportune times. Four of the nine innings’ leadoff hitters reach with hits. The first six hitters in the lineup recorded hits, and Hicklen led the roster with two.
The Blazers and Thundering Herd meet against Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. Right-hander Tanner Graham (3-5, 4.33 ERA) is set to square off against left-hander Parker Danciu (3-3, 6.38 ERA).
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).
