Offense Explodes In Game Two as Blazers Split Double Header

Friday, March 9

Young Memorial Field

2:00 P.M.

UAB

5-7

Milwaukee

3-9

Milwaukee

UAB

Offense Explodes In Game Two as Blazers Split Double Header

3/9/2018 9:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A season-high 10 runs in game two helped the UAB baseball team split its doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Young Memorial Field. Milwaukee (3-10) took game one 6-3 while the Blazers (6-7) claimed game two, 10-0.

"I was so sickened by the first game and thankful we woke up, I think I played four new people in the second game to try to wake us up," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Tyler Gates was fantastic, Ryan Ruggles took a big step forward and Kevin Davis took a big step too so I am encouraged by that. We have to be more consistent and competitive at-bats to have a shot at this. We will try to beat the rain tomorrow and see if we can put two good games back-to-back."

Game One
UAB took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Tyler Tolbert reached base on a leadoff walk. He swiped his eighth base of the season and then reached third on a passed ball. Tolbert crossed the plate when the Panther's catcher threw to first following a Zack Davis strikeout.

The Blazers tacked on two more runs in the second inning. Colton Schultz hit a lead-off stand-up double to begin the inning and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Cole Collins. Stephen Dobbs drew a walk to put bases at the corner for Ralat who singled to right scoring Schultz from third and giving UAB a 2-0 lead. Dobbs scored the second out of the inning as Tolbert grounded into a fielder's choice to the pitcher to extend the Blazers' lead to 3-0.

Milwaukee tied the game at three in the sixth inning with three hits. Trevor Schwecke hit a one-out single before Colin Kreiter launched a two run homerun to right field. Just one batter later, Ben Chally hit the Panthers' second homerun of the inning to tie the game.

The Panthers took a lead it would not relinquish in the eighth, scoring three runs on three hits to take the game 6-3.

Austin Schulfer was credited with the win, his first of the season, while George Swedie earned his fourth save of the season. Carson Jones took his first loss of the season for UAB.

Game Two
UAB opened the flood gates early in the first inning scoring four runs on three hits. Price Visintainer got hit in the ankle to lead off the inning and then advanced to second on a Collins single. Zack Davis got hit by a pitch to give UAB bases loaded with no outs. Pharis hit a sac fly to right field scoring Visintainer and giving the Blazers a 1-0 lead.

Schultz grabbed UAB's second hit of the inning, a single up the middle, to score Collins and extend the lead to two. Brett Blackwood reached first on a fielder's choice to shortstop, bringing in Zack Davis to give UAB a 3-0 lead.

Blake Johnson hit another UAB single to center field to score Schultz and give the Blazers a 4-0 lead after just the first inning.

UAB plated another run in the second inning as Visintainer once again reached base to lead off the inning as he hit a single up the middle. Zack Davis singled to right field and UAB took a 5-0 lead.

Johnson hit a one-out single up the middle in the sixth and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Justin Wiley. He moved up 90-feet on a wild pitch before Visintainer walked to give the Blazers runners on the corners with two outs. Collins knocked his third hit of the game with a double to centerfield scoring Johnson and Visintainer to give UAB a 7-0 lead.

The scoring poured over into the fourth inning. Pharis reached base on a lead off error before Shultz was hit by a pitch advancing Pharis to second. Blackwood doubled off the left field wall to score Pharis and move Schultz to third. Dobbs reached on an error to the second baseman in a ball that got lost in the lights, allowing Schultz to score from third. Visintainer hit a sac fly to centerfield to score Blackwood and give UAB a 10-0 lead.

Tyler Gates (1-0) earned his first career win in his first career start for UAB while Jake Sommers took the loss for the Panthers.

Gates, Ryan Ruggles and Kevin Davis all combined to give up just six hit, two for each player, and no runs as the trio pitched UAB's second shutout of the season.

Offensively Visintainer led and Collins led the charge. Visintainer finished the night a perfect 1-of-1 at the plate with three runs scored, a RBI and a walk. Collins went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a career high three RBI.

Colton Schultz extended his team-best reached base streak to 18 games as he recorded one hit in both games.

With weather moving into the Birmingham area, the series finale has been moved up to 11 a.m. on Saturday morning at Young Memorial Field. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the Young Memorial Field ticket box.

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