LA Tech Edges UAB 7-6 In Game Two

Saturday, March 24

Regions Field

2:00 P.M.

UAB

10-11, 3-2

Louisiana Tech

18-7, 4-1

LA Tech

UAB

LA Tech Edges UAB 7-6 In Game Two

3/24/2018 6:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Five runs over the final three innings was not enough as the UAB baseball team fell 7-6 to LA Tech on Saturday night at Regions Field.

"It was a very uncharacteristic game for us in making four errors that were very instrumental in some of their runs," head coach Brian Shoop said. "I thought our guys did a great job of hanging in there and competing. We got the tying run 90-feet away in the ninth with a really good hitter up. I thought we played really well for all 27 outs of the game. This was a typical Conference USA series where everyone is good and evenly matched and it normally comes down to a play here or a play there."

LA Tech (18-7, 4-1 C-USA) struck in the first inning. Hunter Wells singled into left field on the first pitch of the game. After reaching second one batter later, he came around to score when Mason Mallard singled back to the pitcher to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Mallard would come around to score after Mason Robinson singled to left as LA Tech took a 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the third when Mallard grabbed his second hit of the game with a double into left field. Robinson once again singled around Mallard and LA Tech led 3-0.

UAB (10-11, 3-2) added its first run of the contest in the fourth inning. Cole Collins reached base with a leadoff walk and moved up 90-feet when Colton Schultz grabbed his first hit of the game. Carter Pharis advanced the runners 90-feet when he reached on an error by the Bulldog second baseman to give Brett Blackwood bases loaded with no outs. Blackwood hit a sacrifice fly into right field, scoring Collins, as UAB cut into the lead 3-1.

LA Tech would go on to add four runs in the sixth inning on three hits with one error to take a commanding 7-1 lead.

The Blazers tacked on three in the seventh as they strung together three consecutive hits. Blackwood singled into right before Zack Davis doubled to advance Blackwood to third. Blackwood came around to score on a Price Visintainer single to make UAB trail 7-2.

Antonio Ralat hit the Blazers' second sac fly of the day into left field to score Davis from third and cut the LA Tech lead to four. With two outs, Collins singled to left field scoring Nathan Anthes who reached base on a walk to give UAB its third run of the inning.

Pharis led off the eighth inning with a single to left center before moving up 90-feet on a passed ball. Zack Davis reached on an error to the second baseman scoring Pharis cutting the game to 7-5.

The Blazers made a final push in the ninth inning as Schultz, Pharis and Blackwood all hit consecutive two-out singles. Blackwood's was enough to score Schultz but Zack Davis flied out to left field to end the Blazers' threat and give the game its final 7-6 score.

Logan Robbins (5-0) earned the win for the Diamond Dogs as he lasted seven innings and allowed four runs, all earned, and six hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Braxton Smith was credited his fourth save of the season. Ryan Ruggles (0-1) took the loss for the Blazers.

Schultz led the Blazers offensively going 3-for-5 and finished with a career high in hits en route to his third multi-hit game of the season. Pharis and Blackwood also finished the day with two hits and Blackwood added two RBI.

The two teams will square off in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. from Regions Field.

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