Blazers Fall in Extras at Alabama State

Tuesday, February 20

Montgomery, Ala.

6:00 P.M.

UAB

3-1

Alabama State

3-1

UAB

Alabama State

Blazers Fall in Extras at Alabama State

2/20/2018 10:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A base hit with bases loaded completed Alabama State's comeback as it defeated the UAB baseball team 7-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday night at the Wheeler Watkins Baseball Complex.

"It was a good game, tight game," head coach Brian Shoop said. "It's good to be in tight and close games because you feel things that are really hard to create in practice."

UAB (3-1) struck first in the game scoring two runs in the third inning. Tyler Tolbert singled to left before Visintainer walked bringing Colton Schultz to the plate with two outs. A misplayed ball by the centerfield allowed Visintainer and Tolbert to score and gave UAB a 3-0 lead.

The Blazers added another run in the fifth as Antonio Ralat reached base on a leadoff single. UAB used small ball to get him to third. Schultz extended his, team-best, nine game hitting streak with a single up the middle scoring Ralat as the Blazers held a 4-0 lead.

Zack Davis led off the sixth inning with a walk before Thomas Johns recorded his first hit of the season, a RBI double to straight away center field. Blake Johnson came in to pinch run for Johns and a Stephen Dobbs groundout moved him to third base. Ralat grounded out to second but not before Johnson could score giving UAB a 5-0 lead.

Alabama State (2-2) scored its first runs of the contest on a three-run homerun off the bat of Ray Hernandez cutting UAB's lead to 5-3.

UAB tacked on another run in the eighth as Johnson hit a leadoff double down the left field line before Dobbs singled the drive him home as the Blazers held a 6-3 lead.

The Hornets struck again in the eighth with two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to leave things tied at 6-6 after nine innings and sent the game into extras.

Alabama State led off the 10th inning with a triple from Joseph Estrada before a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk left bases loaded with no outs. Nate Gerard provided the walk-off single giving UAB its first loss of the season.

Chase Laney was credited with the win for the Hornets and Luke Eigsti was handed the loss.

"We'll be in a lot more close games and hopefully we process how we handled our minds and thoughts in all of those moments and this is a learning experience," Shoop said.

Matthew Calvert started the game on the mound for the Green and Gold throwing four innings as he gave up just two hits and no runs while striking out a career high eight batters.

Johnson led the Blazers at the plate as he went 2-for-2 with two runs scored for the third multi-hit game of his career.

Ray Hernandez and Hunter Allen both finished with two hits for the Hornets.

UAB and Alabama State complete the two-game series on Wednesday when the squads meet again at Regions Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office at Regions Field. Fans are also encouraged to purchase a Gold Card which allows entry into all UAB baseball, softball, women's basketball, men's and women's soccer and volleyball games. Contact the UAB Ticket Office (205 975-UAB1) for more details.

For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).