The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, March 16
Bowling Green, KY
1 P.M.
UAB
10-9, 0-2
5
at
6
WKU
8-9, 2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UAB
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
9
0
WKU
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
2
6
12
1
WKU Walks Off to Take Series Over UAB
3/16/2019 4:43:00 PM | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the second consecutive game a WKU base hit in the bottom of the ninth sealed the deal as the Hilltoppers defeated the UAB baseball team 6-5 on Saturday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
UAB (10-9, 0-2 C-USA) has dropped its first Conference USA series of the series for the first time since 2016 when it fell to the Hilltoppers at home.
Tyler Tolbert, Jess Davis and Zack Davis all led the UAB offense with a pair of hits. Tolbert went 2-for-5 with a home run, the second long ball of the junior's career.
J. Davis was 2-for-4 with a double and pair of stolen bases. The swipes move the freshman to 26 on the season, which ties for seventh most all-time in a single season in program history. Z. Davis also went 2-for-4, turning in his sixth multi-hit game of the season but first since a four hit day against Radford on March 2.
Carter Pharis also had a strong day at the plate with a double and a pair of RBIs for his 48th career double, moving the senior into sole possession of fourth place for career doubles.
Tanner Rusk got the start on the mound, throwing 6.1 inning and allowed four runs, all earned, on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Tanner Graham (2-2) took the loss, his first defeat coming out of the bullpen this season, as the senior allowed two runs on four hits, including the big hit in the ninth inning to secure the victory for the Hilltoppers.
The Blazers' five runs in the first inning began with Tolbert's leadoff home run to left center field. J. Davis followed Tolbert, driving a single up the middle followed by a pair of walks issued to Colton Schultz and J Paul Fullerton to load the bases for Pharis who doubled down the right field line, scoring J. Davis and Schultz to give UAB a 3-0 lead. A batter later, Z. Davis singled through the right side deep enough to plate Fullerton and Pharis and push the Blazers' lead to 5-0.
WKU (8-9, 2-0 C-USA) cut into the UAB lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a run on sacrifice fly to center field to cut the Blazers' lead to four.
The Hilltoppers made it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the fourth inning as a two-out single plated the second WKU runs of the contest.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hilltoppers grabbed a one-out single followed by a home run a batter later, making the game 5-4.
WKU led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a followed, before a single two batters later put runners on first and second with one out. The Hilltoppers proceeded to hit consecutive RBI singles with the first one tying the game at five, while the second one scored the winning run, claiming the game and series for WKU.
UAB and WKU are set to play the rubber match of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Nick Dennis Field.
Following the conclusion of the WKU series, the Blazers return to Birmingham to begin a four-game home stand, starting with Auburn on Tuesday night at Regions Field. First pitch between the Blazers and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to each game of the home stand can be purchased online or at the Regions Field Ticket Office. Fans can receive admission into every home baseball and softball game for the entire 2019 season for $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).
UAB (10-9, 0-2 C-USA) has dropped its first Conference USA series of the series for the first time since 2016 when it fell to the Hilltoppers at home.
Tyler Tolbert, Jess Davis and Zack Davis all led the UAB offense with a pair of hits. Tolbert went 2-for-5 with a home run, the second long ball of the junior's career.
J. Davis was 2-for-4 with a double and pair of stolen bases. The swipes move the freshman to 26 on the season, which ties for seventh most all-time in a single season in program history. Z. Davis also went 2-for-4, turning in his sixth multi-hit game of the season but first since a four hit day against Radford on March 2.
Carter Pharis also had a strong day at the plate with a double and a pair of RBIs for his 48th career double, moving the senior into sole possession of fourth place for career doubles.
Tanner Rusk got the start on the mound, throwing 6.1 inning and allowed four runs, all earned, on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Tanner Graham (2-2) took the loss, his first defeat coming out of the bullpen this season, as the senior allowed two runs on four hits, including the big hit in the ninth inning to secure the victory for the Hilltoppers.
The Blazers' five runs in the first inning began with Tolbert's leadoff home run to left center field. J. Davis followed Tolbert, driving a single up the middle followed by a pair of walks issued to Colton Schultz and J Paul Fullerton to load the bases for Pharis who doubled down the right field line, scoring J. Davis and Schultz to give UAB a 3-0 lead. A batter later, Z. Davis singled through the right side deep enough to plate Fullerton and Pharis and push the Blazers' lead to 5-0.
WKU (8-9, 2-0 C-USA) cut into the UAB lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a run on sacrifice fly to center field to cut the Blazers' lead to four.
The Hilltoppers made it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the fourth inning as a two-out single plated the second WKU runs of the contest.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hilltoppers grabbed a one-out single followed by a home run a batter later, making the game 5-4.
WKU led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a followed, before a single two batters later put runners on first and second with one out. The Hilltoppers proceeded to hit consecutive RBI singles with the first one tying the game at five, while the second one scored the winning run, claiming the game and series for WKU.
UAB and WKU are set to play the rubber match of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Nick Dennis Field.
Following the conclusion of the WKU series, the Blazers return to Birmingham to begin a four-game home stand, starting with Auburn on Tuesday night at Regions Field. First pitch between the Blazers and Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m.
Tickets to each game of the home stand can be purchased online or at the Regions Field Ticket Office. Fans can receive admission into every home baseball and softball game for the entire 2019 season for $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).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sutton, B. (1-0)
L: Graham, Tanner (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Davis, Jess 1 ; Pharis, Carter 1 ; Johns, Thomas 1 ; Waltman, Christian 1
HR: Tolbert, Tyler 1
RBI: Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Pharis, Carter 2 ; Davis, Zack 2
SH: Fullerton, J Paul 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Davis, Jess 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Fullerton, J Paul 1 ; Pharis, Carter 1
SB: Davis, Jess 2
CS: Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Davis, Zack 1 ; Wiley, Justin 1
Batting:
2B: Wilson, Jk. 1 ; Zuberer, R. 1
HR: Swiney, J. 1
RBI: Swiney, J. 2 ; Sanford, J. 1 ; Nelson, D. 1 ; Lambert, K. 1 ; McElreath 1
SF: McElreath 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Swiney, J. 1 ; Sims, D. 1 ; Wilson, Jk. 1 ; Zuberer, R. 1 ; McElreath 2
SB: Phipps, M. 1
HBP: Sims, D. 1 ; Sanford, J. 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B/3B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ Baseball
INF
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