The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

UAB Sweeps Second Consecutive Series
2/24/2019 3:50:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – A pair of comeback victories lifted the UAB baseball team to a Sunday sweep of Holy Cross in Troy in two seven inning contests. The Blazers took game one 8-2 and game two 6-2.
UAB (6-1) registered its second consecutive weekend series sweep, opening a season with two straight series sweep for the first time since the 2016 campaign.
"Last night we scored 20 runs and you win most of the time when that happens," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Today both of Holy Cross' starting pitchers gave us fits and we really struggled until late in the game. We feel like one of our strengths as a team is depth and you saw that today when the big hits in game one were Austin Triplett and Antonio Ralat as we came from behind to win that game. Then in the second game we had one out with five to go in the sixth and Triplett comes off the bench and gets us going again, then we pieced some hits together. It was a team effort and the thing that is encouraging that you have a lot of guys that can help and play a role."
Colton Schultz led UAB offensively, going 4-for-7 with three RBI, three runs scored and his first homerun of the season with a solo shot in game two. Sunday wrapped up an impressive week for the junior as he recorded three multi-hit games and seven RBIs over four contests for the Green and Gold.
Thomas Johns registered his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 in game one. Tyler Tolbert also recorded a multi-hit game on Sunday, finishing with a season high two hits in game two, while also adding a run scored.
On the mound, Riley Davis and Tanner Graham combined for 6.2 innings, no runs on just three hits with nine strikeouts. Davis threw 4.0 innings in game one, allowing all three hits, while Graham appeared in game two and allowed just one walk with four strikeouts.
"Once again on the mound our bullpen was great," Shoop said. "When we got the ball to Riley and then to Tanner we were really, really good. I don't think a run scored when they came in and then last night Ryan Wesson did the same thing, giving us three innings of no runs and calmed the game down. You don't like to have to come from behind, but it's good because I'm sure that it builds confidence in the kids that we can come from behind."
Game One
UAB jumped on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning as Jess Davis hit a one double into right center field. A fielder's choice advanced him to third before a Holy Cross error allowed him to cross the plate, giving UAB a 1-0 lead.
Holy Cross (0-7) tied the game up in the top of the second inning as a bases loaded walk allowed the leadoff hitter to score, who also reached on a walk, to knot the game at one.
The Crusaders took the lead an inning later as the leadoff man hit a triple into left center field. A batter later he would come around to score on a sacrifice fly as Holy Cross took a 2-1 advantage.
The Blazers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after Tolbert hit a one out single. The speedy second baseman swiped his fifth and sixth bags of the year before Schultz hit an infield single to score Tolbert and tie the game at two.
The flood gates for the UAB offense opened in the bottom of the sixth inning as UAB plated six runs on six hits. Zack Davis led off the frame with a double into right center followed by a single off the bat of Johns, advancing Z. Davis to third. Justin Wiley pinch ran for Davis, swiping second base before Triplett hit a bases clearing triple to right field to plate the first two runs of the inning. Ralat doubled down the right field line to score Triplett, making the game 5-2. J Paul Fullerton recorded the third consecutive hit, scoring Ralat. Fullerton would come around to score two batters later on a groundout for the fifth run of the frame. The sixth and final run was plated by Schultz who scored on a wild pitch as UAB took game one 8-2.
Game Two
UAB found itself down early in game two as Holy Cross scored pair of runs on one hit in the top of the third inning to lead 2-0.
Schultz made it a one-run game with his solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. The homerun was the third of his career
The sixth inning once again proved to be the difference maker for the Blazers as Triplett hit a pinch hit single into left field, followed by a single off the bat of Tolbert. J. Davis hit a bases clearing double off the wall in right center to give the Blazers a lead it would not relinquish. After J. Davis swiped third, Schultz drove home his second run of the game, singling through the left side, pushing the UAB lead to 4-2. Carter Pharis recorded the fifth consecutive hit to move Schultz to second. A fielder's choice advanced both runners 90-feet, before Fullerton hit a single through the right side to score Schultz and Pharis, giving UAB the 6-2 victory.
The Blazers combined for 34 runs on 34 hits over three games this weekend, scoring 20 runs on 15 hits in game one of the series.
UAB returns to the diamond with a pair of midweek games, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26 when Jacksonville State comes to Regions Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch. The Blazers close their midweek slate the following night at Alabama State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. in Montgomery.
Fans can receive admission into home baseball, softball and women's basketball game for the 2019 season by purchasing a Gold Card for $65. 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).
UAB (6-1) registered its second consecutive weekend series sweep, opening a season with two straight series sweep for the first time since the 2016 campaign.
"Last night we scored 20 runs and you win most of the time when that happens," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Today both of Holy Cross' starting pitchers gave us fits and we really struggled until late in the game. We feel like one of our strengths as a team is depth and you saw that today when the big hits in game one were Austin Triplett and Antonio Ralat as we came from behind to win that game. Then in the second game we had one out with five to go in the sixth and Triplett comes off the bench and gets us going again, then we pieced some hits together. It was a team effort and the thing that is encouraging that you have a lot of guys that can help and play a role."
Colton Schultz led UAB offensively, going 4-for-7 with three RBI, three runs scored and his first homerun of the season with a solo shot in game two. Sunday wrapped up an impressive week for the junior as he recorded three multi-hit games and seven RBIs over four contests for the Green and Gold.
Thomas Johns registered his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 in game one. Tyler Tolbert also recorded a multi-hit game on Sunday, finishing with a season high two hits in game two, while also adding a run scored.
On the mound, Riley Davis and Tanner Graham combined for 6.2 innings, no runs on just three hits with nine strikeouts. Davis threw 4.0 innings in game one, allowing all three hits, while Graham appeared in game two and allowed just one walk with four strikeouts.
"Once again on the mound our bullpen was great," Shoop said. "When we got the ball to Riley and then to Tanner we were really, really good. I don't think a run scored when they came in and then last night Ryan Wesson did the same thing, giving us three innings of no runs and calmed the game down. You don't like to have to come from behind, but it's good because I'm sure that it builds confidence in the kids that we can come from behind."
Game One
UAB jumped on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning as Jess Davis hit a one double into right center field. A fielder's choice advanced him to third before a Holy Cross error allowed him to cross the plate, giving UAB a 1-0 lead.
Holy Cross (0-7) tied the game up in the top of the second inning as a bases loaded walk allowed the leadoff hitter to score, who also reached on a walk, to knot the game at one.
The Crusaders took the lead an inning later as the leadoff man hit a triple into left center field. A batter later he would come around to score on a sacrifice fly as Holy Cross took a 2-1 advantage.
The Blazers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after Tolbert hit a one out single. The speedy second baseman swiped his fifth and sixth bags of the year before Schultz hit an infield single to score Tolbert and tie the game at two.
The flood gates for the UAB offense opened in the bottom of the sixth inning as UAB plated six runs on six hits. Zack Davis led off the frame with a double into right center followed by a single off the bat of Johns, advancing Z. Davis to third. Justin Wiley pinch ran for Davis, swiping second base before Triplett hit a bases clearing triple to right field to plate the first two runs of the inning. Ralat doubled down the right field line to score Triplett, making the game 5-2. J Paul Fullerton recorded the third consecutive hit, scoring Ralat. Fullerton would come around to score two batters later on a groundout for the fifth run of the frame. The sixth and final run was plated by Schultz who scored on a wild pitch as UAB took game one 8-2.
Game Two
UAB found itself down early in game two as Holy Cross scored pair of runs on one hit in the top of the third inning to lead 2-0.
Schultz made it a one-run game with his solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. The homerun was the third of his career
The sixth inning once again proved to be the difference maker for the Blazers as Triplett hit a pinch hit single into left field, followed by a single off the bat of Tolbert. J. Davis hit a bases clearing double off the wall in right center to give the Blazers a lead it would not relinquish. After J. Davis swiped third, Schultz drove home his second run of the game, singling through the left side, pushing the UAB lead to 4-2. Carter Pharis recorded the fifth consecutive hit to move Schultz to second. A fielder's choice advanced both runners 90-feet, before Fullerton hit a single through the right side to score Schultz and Pharis, giving UAB the 6-2 victory.
The Blazers combined for 34 runs on 34 hits over three games this weekend, scoring 20 runs on 15 hits in game one of the series.
UAB returns to the diamond with a pair of midweek games, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26 when Jacksonville State comes to Regions Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch. The Blazers close their midweek slate the following night at Alabama State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. in Montgomery.
Fans can receive admission into home baseball, softball and women's basketball game for the 2019 season by purchasing a Gold Card for $65. 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).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Davis, Riley (2-1)
L: McGowan, Pat (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Malgeri, Ben 1
3B: Masel, Austin 1
RBI: Malgeri, Ben 1 ; Gionis, Alex 1
SH: Livingston, Riley 1 ; McCormick, Kellen 1
SF: Malgeri, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Masel, Austin 1 ; Buck, Zach 1
HBP: Volpi, Alex 1 ; Gionis, Alex 1

Batting:
2B: Davis, Jess 1 ; Davis, Zack 1 ; Ralat, Antonio 1 ; Fullerton, J Paul 1
3B: Triplett, Austin 1
RBI: Davis, Jess 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Triplett, Austin 2 ; Ralat, Antonio 1 ; Fullerton, J Paul 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Davis, Jess 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Davis, Zack 1 ; Wiley, Justin 1 ; Triplett, Austin 1 ; Ralat, Antonio 1 ; Fullerton, J Paul 1
SB: Tolbert, Tyler 2 ; Wiley, Justin 1
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