The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, April 13
Norfolk, Va.
6:00 P.M.
UAB
15-17, 7-6
6
at
3
Old Dominion
10-22, 3-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UAB
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
10
2
Old Dominion
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
2
Long Ball Lifts UAB to Game One Win Over ODU
4/13/2018 8:45:00 PM | Baseball
NORFOLK, Va. – A complete game from Tanner Graham and a multi-home run night from Brett Blackwood lifted the UAB baseball team to 6-3 game one win at Old Dominion on Friday night.
UAB improves to 15-15 overall and 7-6 in Conference USA play, while Old Dominion falls to 10-22 on the season and 3-10 in league play.
"We got to the ballpark tonight and the wind was blowing straight out to left and it was a matter of who was going to get enough balls in the air to left field tonight and thankfully we did," head coach Brian Shoop said. "All four of our home runs were hit well but they probably don't go out at Regions Field. Thankfully they did tonight and then Tanner took it from there. It was a good first night and we'll go back to work tomorrow."
UAB struck in the first inning as Brett Blackwood launched his second home run of the season with a straight away three-run shot to center field to drive home Cole Collins and Colton Schultz and give the Blazers a 3-0 lead.
Pharis led off the third inning with a solo shot to left field, followed by Blackwood's second long ball of the game, also to left field. Stephen Dobbs then stepped to the plate a batter later and hit the third UAB home run of the inning to give the Blazers a 6-0 lead.
Old Dominion answered in the bottom half of the third as it strung together consecutive no-out hits. A sacrifice fly scored the first run of the inning and then the third single of the frame scored the second run as the Monarchs cut the Blazers' lead to 6-2.
Graham proceeded to throw five perfect innings, not allowing a base runner until the bottom of the ninth when Old Dominion drew a lead-off walk. A wild pitch moved the runner into scoring position before a throwing error by the UAB first baseman allowed him to come around and score to cut the lead to 6-3.
Graham earned his third win of the season, tossing the first UAB complete game since Thomas Lowery went nine innings at WKU on March 19, 2017. The complete game was the first of Graham's career.
Blackwood finished the night 2-for-4 with a career high four RBI and his first career multi-home run game. The junior is the first Blazer to hit multiple home runs in a game since Brewer Hicklen did so at WKU on March 18, 2017.
Pharis launched his eighth career home run, and third of the season, as he and Blackwood teamed up to become the first UAB hitters to hit back-to-back home runs since Antonio Ralat and Hicklen did it at Louisiana Tech on April 23, 2017.
Dobbs solo shot was the second of his career. He finished the night 1-for-3 with a RBI, run scored and a walk, while Price Visintainer turned in his 15th career multi-hit game after going 2-for-4.
Starter Erik Stock took the loss for the Monarchs, his second of the season. Stock allowed six runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
The two teams are scheduled to play game two tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT, but potential weather moving into the Norfolk area could alter the series. Details will be provided via uabsports.com and the UAB baseball team's Twitter account (UAB_Baseball).
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).
UAB improves to 15-15 overall and 7-6 in Conference USA play, while Old Dominion falls to 10-22 on the season and 3-10 in league play.
"We got to the ballpark tonight and the wind was blowing straight out to left and it was a matter of who was going to get enough balls in the air to left field tonight and thankfully we did," head coach Brian Shoop said. "All four of our home runs were hit well but they probably don't go out at Regions Field. Thankfully they did tonight and then Tanner took it from there. It was a good first night and we'll go back to work tomorrow."
UAB struck in the first inning as Brett Blackwood launched his second home run of the season with a straight away three-run shot to center field to drive home Cole Collins and Colton Schultz and give the Blazers a 3-0 lead.
Pharis led off the third inning with a solo shot to left field, followed by Blackwood's second long ball of the game, also to left field. Stephen Dobbs then stepped to the plate a batter later and hit the third UAB home run of the inning to give the Blazers a 6-0 lead.
Old Dominion answered in the bottom half of the third as it strung together consecutive no-out hits. A sacrifice fly scored the first run of the inning and then the third single of the frame scored the second run as the Monarchs cut the Blazers' lead to 6-2.
Graham proceeded to throw five perfect innings, not allowing a base runner until the bottom of the ninth when Old Dominion drew a lead-off walk. A wild pitch moved the runner into scoring position before a throwing error by the UAB first baseman allowed him to come around and score to cut the lead to 6-3.
Graham earned his third win of the season, tossing the first UAB complete game since Thomas Lowery went nine innings at WKU on March 19, 2017. The complete game was the first of Graham's career.
Blackwood finished the night 2-for-4 with a career high four RBI and his first career multi-home run game. The junior is the first Blazer to hit multiple home runs in a game since Brewer Hicklen did so at WKU on March 18, 2017.
Pharis launched his eighth career home run, and third of the season, as he and Blackwood teamed up to become the first UAB hitters to hit back-to-back home runs since Antonio Ralat and Hicklen did it at Louisiana Tech on April 23, 2017.
Dobbs solo shot was the second of his career. He finished the night 1-for-3 with a RBI, run scored and a walk, while Price Visintainer turned in his 15th career multi-hit game after going 2-for-4.
Starter Erik Stock took the loss for the Monarchs, his second of the season. Stock allowed six runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts.
The two teams are scheduled to play game two tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT, but potential weather moving into the Norfolk area could alter the series. Details will be provided via uabsports.com and the UAB baseball team's Twitter account (UAB_Baseball).
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Graham, Tanner (3-3)
L: STOCK, Erik (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Visintainer, Price 1
HR: Pharis, Carter 1 ; Blackwood, Brett 2 ; Dobbs, Stephen 1
RBI: Pharis, Carter 1 ; Blackwood, Brett 4 ; Dobbs, Stephen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Collins, Cole 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Pharis, Carter 1 ; Blackwood, Brett 2 ; Dobbs, Stephen 1
CS: Tolbert, Tyler 1
PO: Schultz, Colton 1
Batting:
RBI: BATTLE, Kyle 1 ; MORGAN, Will 1
SF: BATTLE, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WINDHAM, B. 1 ; BELL, Tommy 1 ; ALEXANDER 1
SB: ALEXANDER 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
2b/1b
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
1B/DH
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C/3B
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RHP
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OF
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LHP
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SS
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OF/1B
/ Baseball3B
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