The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama State
UAB Suffers Setback at Alabama State, Lose 7-2
2/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The UAB baseball team fell in its first road game of the season on Wednesday evening. The Blazers traveled to Alabama State and fell 7-2 to suffer its first loss of the year. UAB’s record is now 3-1 while the Hornets picked up their first win of the season and are 1-3. It was just the third loss for UAB all-time in the series.
"Some free bases and mislocated pitches and they took advantage of it," said UAB head coach Brian Shoop. "They are a veteran hitting team and good by them."
The Hornets and Blazers each had early opportunities with multiple runners in scoring position. Alabama State’s chance came in the first inning but a strikeout by UAB starter Adam Lamar and a great defensive effort by Blake Johnson at second base got the Blazers out of the jam. UAB rattled off back-to-back hits from Price Visintainer and Carter Pharis with two outs in the top of the third inning but Thomas Johns struck out to leave the game scoreless.
Alabama State scored the first five runs of the game in the bottom half of the third inning. The first run came via a RBI double which was followed by back-to-back bases loaded opportunities. An infield single plated the second run and a double to left center by Hunter Allen cleared the bases to push the score to 5-0.
Austin Thomas relieved Lamar in the fourth inning and was in trouble early following back-to-back hits and a passed ball to put two runners in scoring position. Thomas responded with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to escape the inning.
The Hornets tacked on another run in the fifth inning. Allen added another RBI to his total with a double against Dylan Munger to score Hunter Phillips. Isaiah Gonzales-Montoya then came on in relief and retired three of the four batters he faced to prevent anymore runs..
Burke Echelmeier night came to an end after 101 pitches and walking Jared Nixon to lead off the seventh inning. The senior finished with five strikeouts, five hits allowed and three walks in addition to hitting one batter.
Austin Bizzle came on in relief for Alabama State and forced three quick Blazer outs. The righty allowed two hits early in the eighth to set-up a two-out, two RBI single for Stephen Dobbs to cut the Hornets lead to 6-2.
Alabama State would add one more run on a solo home run to left field by Carlos Ocasio. Neither team would score again as the Hornets won 7-2.
Pharis finished as the only Blazer batter with multiple hits on the evening. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, extending his consecutive on-base streak to seven games dating back to last year.
Dobbs was 2-for-5 with two RBI and has now reached safely in each of his first four games in the Green & Gold.
The Blazers return to Regions Field this weekend as they welcome Valparaiso. The Friday night game has a 4 p.m. start time, Saturday is slate for 1 p.m., and Sunday will begin at 12 p.m. The Crusaders opened the season at 1-2.
"I'm not going to be too down," said Shoop. "Back to work tomorrow and get ready for Valpo."
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 (@UAB_Athletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uab_athletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
