The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee State
UAB Squanders Early Lead at Middle Tennessee
4/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats (PDF)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The UAB baseball team lost its series opener versus Middle Tennessee on Thursday night as the Blue Raiders won on a walk-off single in the ninth inning. The Blazers led 9-1 after the third inning but ultimately fell 11-10. UAB’s record falls to 16-18 overall and 5-8 in Conference USA and MT improves to 17-17 and 5-8 in conference.
“Kids are hurting,” said head coach Brian Shoop. “It’s very disappointing to have a nine-run lead, with Thomas Lowery on the mound, you feel really good about it. I told them that when the teams not playing well, it’s the leaders fault, it’s my fault. I don’t have them quite ready enough.”
The Blazers had two huge innings back-to-back as they scored nine runs across the second and third frames. They had eight hits in that time with two coming by Pierce Ressmeyer who began each inning. Ressmeyer belted a solo shot down the left field line to begin the third inning. Four more runs were scored as the next four batters each reached base with the final, Colton Schultz, walking with the bases loaded to score Antonio Ralat. The Blazers other RBI to make it 9-1 were credited to Tyler Tolbert, Price Visintainer, and Brewer Hicklen.
Middle Tennessee chipped away with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Five hits capped off by a two RBI single from Riley Delgado made it a 9-5 game.
The Blazers tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh but the Blue Raiders stormed back in the bottom portion of the inning to tie the game at 10-10. MTSU collected four hits but three errors by UAB hurt the team significantly. The first two runs came when Brad Jarreau hit a single to right field with Delgado advancing to third by a fielding error saw the ball trickle all the way to the wall. Delgado scored as Jarreau rounded the bases to score in the at-bat. The last two runs also came on an error. The Blazers tried to turn a double play but a sloppy exchange at second base led to errant throw. Two runs were put on the board instead of two outs and the game was tied.
UAB went the next two frames without a hit and MT did not need long to score the walk-off winner. A single by Austin Dennis to begin the bottom of the ninth inning led to a single by Kaleb King. With runners on first and second, Drew Huff laced a hit back up the middle to score Dennis and win the ball game. It was the first time this season UAB was a walk-off victim.
Carson Jones was tagged with the loss after throwing 2-plus innings in relief. He is now 2-2 after allowing six hits, five runs, four earned, two walks, and striking out four.
Lowery started for the Blazers and tossed a career-high 96 pitches. He lasted six-plus innings while conceding nine hits, six runs, five earned, and one walk. Lowery struck out three batters.
Tyler Holcombe earned the victory. The MTSU reliever tossed 2.2 innings to improve to 3-1 this year. He was the only Blue Raider to not allow a hit and gave up just one walk. Holcombe had two strikeouts.
Ralat had a career-high three hits as he finished 3-for-4 at the dish with two runs and one walk. Riley McCown and Stephen Dobbs also added two runs apiece. McCown notched two RBI while Dobbs had one.
Ressmeyer’s was the second career homer for him at UAB. He also added two runs while going 2-for-5.
“We’re a good team, we’re just not quite getting over the hump,” said Shoop. “Just have to hang in there and keep grinding. No excuses, no passing the puck. We just have to get a little bit better. Disappointing loss but it could be a defining moment for us if we bounce back. That’s hard to do, it’s easier said than done. When you’ve been losing and lose a game in that fashion, it takes a lot out of the heart and soul. Hopefully we’ll bounce back and make a run again tomorrow.”
Tomorrow night’s game is slated to start for the same time (6 PM).
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).
