Davis Duo Shines As Blazers Complete Opening Series Sweep

Saturday, February 16

Regions Field

1 p.m.

UAB

2-0

SIU-Edwardsville

0-2

SIUE

UAB

Davis Duo Shines As Blazers Complete Opening Series Sweep

2/16/2019 9:42:00 PM | Baseball

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

BIRMINGHAM – A combined 18 runs and 17 hits over a Saturday double header lifted the UAB baseball team to an Opening Series sweep of SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon at Regions Field. UAB took game one 5-3 and game two 13-5.

The sweep marked the third consecutive season that the Green and Gold opened the season with a three-game sweep.

"Every series you have some good and have some things that you need to work on and that would be the case here as well," head coach Brian Shoop said.

Jess Davis provided the offensive spark, going 5-for-8 with five RBI, three runs scored and six stolen bases over the pair of games, including five in game two matching the program record for stolen bases in a game set by Mitch Jones against Alabama State on Feb. 13, 2000.

Zack Davis piggybacked off of his younger brother's success, going 5-for-6 with four runs scored and a pair of RBI on Saturday. The redshirt junior was a perfect 3-for-3 in game one, tallying a career high in hits, turning in his fourth and fifth multi-hit games of his career, respectively.

Tanner Graham (1-0) was credited with the win in game one, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing no runs on just two hits with five strikeouts in his senior season debut.

"Just like the game one turned when Riley Davis came in, the same thing happened when Tanner came in," Shoop said. "Wow, was Tanner Graham good. He didn't give up anything, there were no freebies and really even threats, he dominated that game and took it over."

Tyler O'Clair (1-0) picked up his first collegiate win, appearing in relief of Tanner Rusk in game two. The freshman allowed one run on a pair of hits with three strikeouts, spanning 2.0 inning. Ryan Wesson was credited with the save, the second of his career, allowing no runs on one hit with six strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.

Game One

UAB found itself in an early deficit as SIUE plated three runs on four hits with a pair of UAB errors in the top of the second inning, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

An inning later, the Blazers chipped into the lead as Zack Davis led off the third inning, doubling down the right field line. Two batters later, Justin Wiley drove a single up the middle, scoring Zack Davis to make the contest 3-1. After a swipe of second and a groundout pushed Wiley to third Jess Davis turned in his first hit of the game, singling into left field scoring Wiley to make the game 3-2.

Zack Davis led off the home half of the fifth inning with his second double in as many at bats. A passed ball moved him to third base followed by a Wiley walk, before a Jess Davis knocked a bases clearing double down the left field line to give the Blazers a 4-2 lead, and one it would not relinquish.

UAB plated its fifth and final run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Thomas Johns hit a leadoff double to left center field. Zack Davis completed his perfect 3-for-3 day, driving home Johns with a single into center field for the fifth and final Blazer run of game one.

"The Davis brothers it seems like provided our offense for us," Shoop said. "It was a really special weekend for those parents to see both of their sons in there together."

Game Two

SIUE once again struck first in the second game of the double header, scoring one run on a pair of hits in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.

UAB countered in the bottom half of the frame, scoring its one run with two outs. Jess Davis singled into right field and advanced 90-feet as Colton Schultz walked. Jess Davis swiped the first of his five bases to stand on third before a throwing error from the third baseman allowed him to score, tying the game at one.

The Blazers took a lead it retain for the remainder of the game in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on a pair of hits and two SIUE errors. Jeffries drew a two-out walk and would come around to score the first run on a Tyler Tolbert single. Jess Davis once again provided offense, hitting a sharp single at the pitcher, plating Tolbert and Wiley for the second and third runs of the inning.

SIUE made it a two-run contest in the top of the fifth inning as a one-out single scored a run to make the game 4-2.

UAB once again responded in the bottom half of the frame as Carter Pharis turned in his first hit of the season with a double into left field. Zack Davis singled right field, advancing Pharis to third before Johns hit a sacrifice fly into short left field, scoring Pharis and extended the UAB lead to three. Zack Davis came around to score on a wild pitch, putting the game at 6-2.

The Cougars fought back in the top of the sixth inning as Matthew Calvert surrendered a pair of runs on three hits to make it a 6-5 game.

Scoring continued for the fourth consecutive inning for the Green and Gold in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jess Davis drew a leadoff walk, before swiping second base a batter later. Colton Schultz hit a hard single up the middle to drive Jess Davis in for the first run of the inning. Two batters later, Ian Ladner grounded out to third base, scoring Schultz to push the UAB lead to 8-5.

UAB plated its final five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring five runs on four hits highlighted by a J Paul Fullerton bases clearing, two out double down the right field line, scoring Pharis and Zack Davis for the games' final runs.

"The second game all of the kids did fine," Shoop said. "I felt like when Ryan Wesson came in the game I thought it was over and we were in good shape. But I was happy to expand and get some more runs. It was a good weekend and I am happy that our women and men won in basketball so it was a good weekend for Blazer fans. We have 53 games to go so it's back to work."

UAB returns to the diamond with a midweek match on Wednesday night at Mississippi State. First pitch between the Blazers and Bulldogs is set for 4 p.m. from Dudy Noble Field.

Fans can receive admission into every home baseball, softball and women's basketball game for the entire 2019 season for just $65 by purchasing a Gold Card. 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).