Blazers Blank Reigning Big Ten Champion

Sunday, March 4

Regions Field

12:00 P.M.

UAB

5-5

Iowa

8-2

Iowa

UAB

Blazers Blank Reigning Big Ten Champion

3/4/2018 4:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A dominant day by the pitching staff and an offensive outpour gave the Blazers what it needed as the UAB baseball team shutout Iowa 4-0 on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field.

"Today was much needed and I am really happy for our kids," head coach Brian Shoop said. "One walk and no errors is a formula for success for your pitching and defense, and we added some timely hitting to the mix today. Our hitters have been trying so hard because they care so much, they're such great kids, and they've been pressing so hard so it was fantastic to break through. I'm really happy for our kids because we beat a good team."

UAB (5-5) took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Price Visintainer hit a two-out single to score Stephen Dobbs who led off the frame with a single of his own.

The Blazers tacked on their final three runs just an inning later. UAB led off the inning with a single from Zack Davis and then Carter Pharis followed him up with a double. The pair would come around to score on the next batter when Thomas Johns roped a two RBI double.

Colton Schultz laid down a sac bunt to advance Johns to second. Blake Johnson knocked the Blazers third hit off the inning, a single moving Johns to third base. Johns scored on a sac bunt down the first base line to give their Blazers final run of the game.

Iowa (8-2) threatened in the sixth inning after Mitchell Boe struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch. The Hawkeyes sent Boe early but Justin Jenkins grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to clear the bases.

Carson Jones came in to pitch the ninth inning and after giving up a leadoff hit, the Blazer defense stepped up again picking up their second double play of the game ending the final Hawkeye threat.

Ryan Wesson (2-1) was credited with the win for the Blazers as he lasted 5.2 innings and allowed just three hits with a career high seven strikeouts. Ty Harris and Jones came out of the bullpen and both pitched lights out to preserve UAB's first shutout since doing it at WKU on March 19, 2017.

"Today was much needed and I'm really happy for our kids," Shoop said. "We got what we thought we would get out of Ryan Wesson, he was outstanding, Ty Harris was outstanding and Carson Jones finished it off so it was a great pitched game. It was a big double play in the sixth inning even with Iowa starting the runner so we defended well today too. I thought Colton Schultz made four outstanding plays in left field for us. We played well today and deserved to win."

Offensively Price Visintainer led the Blazers with a RBI and a career-high three hits. Zack Davis continued his tear of a season as he finished the day 2-for-4 and grabbed his third multi-hit game of the season.

UAB returns to the diamond on Tuesday when it welcomes No. 18 Auburn to Regions Field. The first pitch between the Blazers and Tigers is slated for 6:30 p.m.

"There's a lot of parity in baseball and we can beat anybody if we play well," Shoop said. "I love Coach Butch Thompson like a son, he almost is to me. I recruited him, coached him, he was my pitching coach on a national championship team so I love him to death and root for him almost all of the time, just not this Tuesday."

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