Offense Remains Hot In 10-6 Victory at Alabama State

Wednesday, February 27

Montgomery, Ala.

6 p.m.

UAB

7-2

Alabama State

5-3

UAB

Alabama State

Alabama State Athletics

Offense Remains Hot In 10-6 Victory at Alabama State

2/27/2019 10:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Seven runs over four innings lifted the UAB baseball team to a 10-6 victory at Alabama State on Tuesday night.

UAB (7-2) picked up its first midweek win of the season, while recorded its first victory on the road at Alabama State since 2015.

"Alabama State did a really good job against Graham Ashcraft who no hit Mississippi State in his last outing," head coach Brian Shoop said. "They were very aggressive and we were in a hole right out of the shoot. We came back and then they came back again. To me Division I baseball in our state is really good. Anyone can beat anybody and if you follow the scores throughout the year everybody does beat everybody. It was a good bounce back win for our kids against a quality opponent on the road."

Colton Schultz led UAB offensively, matching his career high in hits with three. The reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week went 3-for-5 with a season best three runs scored, while adding a pair of RBIs two extra base hits, including his first career triple.

Carter Pharis recorded multiple hits for the second consecutive night, going 2-for-4 and drew a walk to reach base safely three times. The senior also scored two runs and recorded a season high two RBIs.

Zack Davis turned in his fourth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a career high three RBIs.

Austin Triplett rounded out the Blazers to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a RBI for his first career multi-hit contest.

Graham Ashcraft (1-0) earned his first career win, throwing 5.0 innings and allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits with five strikeouts. Alexander Pondick made his first career relief appearance, going 3.0 innings and allowed no runs on just two hits with three strikeouts.

Alabama State (5-3) struck in the first inning as the leadoff hitter singled through the right side before a sac bunt moved him to second followed by a double into right center to score the first run. Two batters later, another single plated the second Hornet run of the game as they led 2-0.

UAB got on the board in the top of the third inning as Schultz hit a two-out double into right center field to score Tyler Tolbert who reached on a single, making the game 2-1. One batter later Pharis doubled down the left field line to score Schultz and tie the game at two. The final UAB run came around when Triplett singled through the left side, scoring Pharis and giving UAB a 3-2 lead.

The Hornets retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning as a one out single scored the first run, tying the game at three. The second Alabama State run scored on a bases loaded walk, as it took a 4-3 lead.

UAB regained a lead it would not relinquish in the top of the fifth inning as Jess Davis drew a leadoff walk before swiping his second and third bases of the game followed by a Schultz's walk. Z. Davis doubled into right field, scoring Schultz and J. Davis to give UAB a 5-4 lead. J Paul Fullerton singled a pitch later to drive Z. Davis home and stretch the Blazers' lead to two.

The Blazers added another run in the top of the sixth inning as J. Davis reached base with a two out single and advanced into scoring position with his fourth stolen base of the game before a Schultz single drove him home to push UAB's lead to 7-4.

The Green and Gold added some insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning scoring three runs on as many hits. Schultz drilled a one out triple for his second extra base hit of the night before Pharis singled up the middle to make the contest 8-4. One batter later, Z. Davis launched his first home run of the season with a two-run shot over the right field wall, scoring Pharis and pushing the UAB to 10-4.

Alabama State made the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth as the leadoff hitter reached on a five pitch walk followed by a single into center field before a wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Cole Whitman game into the game in relief and retired the first hitter he faced, but allowed a bases clearing double to the second batter and the Hornets cut UAB's lead to 10-6. Whitman proceeded to retire the following batters to finish the game and secure the Blazer victory.

UAB returns to action on Friday night when it welcomes Radford for a three-game series at Regions Field. First pitch between the Blazers and Highlands is set for 4 p.m. Games two and three are set for Saturday and Sunday as both pitches will come at 1 p.m.

Fans can receive access to every home baseball, softball and women's basketball game for the entire 2019 season 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).