The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
UAB Baseball Falls to Marshall in Extra Innings
5/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Late-inning heroics was the theme of Saturday afternoon’s game at Appalachian Power Park. Despite a two-run, game-tying home run in the seventh from Griffin Gum, a Leo Valenti walk-off led Marshall past UAB, 4-3, in 11 innings.
The Herd took advantage of two hits and two errors in the first inning against UAB starter Tanner Graham. Following a DJ Gee double, Tommy Lane lifted a monstrous home run to right to send Marshall up 2-0.
The Blazers’ freshman right-hander threw five innings, allowing just three runs on six hits. The only other run the pitcher allowed was a second home run by Lane, a solo home run to center, to lead off the fifth.
Down 3-0, the Green and Gold mounted a comeback beginning in the seventh. Holt Davis doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a bloop single by Jacob Armstrong.
UAB trailed 3-1 going into the eighth. Marshall starter Parker Danciu was given the green light to head back to the mound, but was replaced with right-hander Burris Warner following a leadoff walk to Mitch Williams. Gum rudely welcomed the fireballer with a two-run home run off the scoreboard in left-center, tying the game 3-3.
Scoreless in the eighth, ninth and 10th, Thomas Lowery headed back to the mound to start the 11th inning. Valenti, the nine-hole hitter who had been held hitless throughout the game, clubbed the left-hander’s pitch to left over the wall to give Marshall a 4-3 win.
The Blazers managed seven hits to the Herd’s 10. Freshman Carter Pharis led the offensive charge with three hits, and Gum finished the day with two RBI. Both Brewer Hicklen and Armstrong reached back twice via walks.
The two teams wrap up the series Sunday morning at 9 a.m. CT as the Blazers attempt to avoid a three-game sweep.
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