Bulldogs Walk Off in Game Two to Claim Series Over the Blazers

Saturday, March 30

Ruston, LA

12 P.M.

UAB

12-16, 1-7

Louisiana Tech

16-10, 4-4

UAB

Louisiana Tech

Bulldogs Walk Off in Game Two to Claim Series Over the Blazers

3/30/2019 4:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

RUSTON, La. – A four-run lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning proved not to be enough as Louisiana Tech scored five runs over the final two innings to defeat the UAB baseball team 7-6 on Saturday afternoon in Ruston.

UAB (12-16, 1-7 C-USA) will have to wait another week to try its hand at winning its first Conference USA series of the season. The Blazers have dropped six consecutive league series, dating back to May 4 of last season.

"It gets old losing by one-run," head coach Brian Shoop said. "A four-run lead with seven outs to play was not enough. You would think that would be enough and it wasn't."

Tanner Rusk gave the Blazers 6.2 quality innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. The UAB bullpen, however, combined to allow five runs on eight hits with no strikeouts as four pitchers threw 1.2 innings. Ryan Wesson (1-2) suffered the loss.

Offensively, Zack Davis, Carter Pharis, Ian Ladner and Blake Johnson all recorded two hits. Pharis led the squad with a pair of RBIs as the senior launched his third home run of the season. Davis added three runs and a double to his day, while Ladner extended his hitting streak to six games.

Louisiana (16-10, 4-4 C-USA) Tech struck first in the bottom of the third inning as a sacrifice fly plated Philip Matulia who led of the frame with a double, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

UAB took its first lead of the game an inning later in the fourth as Davis and Pharis led off the frame with consecutive hits. Lander drove a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Davis and tying the game at one. With two outs in the inning, Johnson provided the third UAB hit of the frame with a single through the right side, advancing Pharis to third before Christian Waltman would reach on a throwing error by the Bulldogs' shortstop, deep enough to score Pharis and Johnson and push UAB's lead to 3-1.

The Blazers added some insurance in the top of the seventh inning as Davis drew a one out walk before Pharis launched a two run blast over the left field wall to push UAB's lead to 5-1.

The Bulldogs got a run back in the bottom of the seventh inning, making the Blazers pay for a two out error with a RBI single from the following batter to make it a 5-2 game.

Louisiana Tech tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a one-out, two RBI double to right center field to make it a one run game. A batter later, Chris Clayton hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Parker Bates and tying the game at five.

Davis led off the ninth inning with a single through the right side for the Blazers. A groundout from Ladner moved him into scoring position with two outs before Johnson drove a sharply hit single up the middle, scoring Davis and giving UAB back the lead at 6-5.

With a one run lead to play with, Wesson allowed three consecutive hits to lead off the home half of the ninth with the final one being a RBI double to left center field, tying the game at 6. Cole Whitman came into the game for the Blazers, inheriting runners on second and third with one out. Despite working ahead to get an 0-2 count, Bates drove a walk off sacrifice fly to center field to claim the game and the series for the Bulldogs.

UAB and Louisiana Tech will square off in the series finale on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).