The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

Blazers Fall 4-3 In Tuscaloosa
3/5/2019 6:39:00 PM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A pair of runs with bases loaded with no outs in the top of the ninth inning proved to not be enough as the UAB baseball team fell 4-3 at Alabama on Tuesday night in Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
UAB (9-4) recorded a season low six hits, while matching its fewest runs in a game this season as it fell to 0-2 on Tuesday mid-week contests during 2019.
"We got that tying run 90-feet away again," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Alabama is obviously a good club, off to an 11-2 start, but I felt like we helped them with a couple runs. We didn't turn a double play in their two-run inning and they pushed one across just after that and it was a pretty routine double play. We misplayed a very catchable ball in the outfield in the sixth inning which led to their last run. We don't give up those two we win, but it was a close game against a very good team on the road. Thankfully we get to practice tomorrow, I feel like we haven't practiced in forever because of the weather, so we get to work on some things before heading back on the road to Oxford."
J Paul Fullerton was the only Blazer to record a multi-hit game as the catcher went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. The junior is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, including a three-game multi-hit streak.
Graham Ashcraft (1-1) suffered his first career loss, allowing two runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
Alabama (11-2) struck in the bottom of the third inning as a fielder's choice plated the first run of the game followed by an infield RBI three batters later to give the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide pushed their lead to three in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a leadoff home run, off the bat of Tyler Gentry to make the game 3-0.
The fourth Alabama run of the contest came in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Crimson Tide led off the inning with a triple into left field. Two batters later a sacrifice fly to center field scored the leadoff man, pushing Alabama's lead to 4-0.
The Blazers pushed their first run of the game across the plate in the top of the seventh inning as Fullerton hit a leadoff double into right center field before moving to third on a groundout three pitches later. Thomas Johns drove a pinch hit single up the middle, scoring Fullerton to make the game 4-1.
Carter Pharis led off the ninth inning with a walk followed by Fullerton's second hit of the game before Austin Triplett walked to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch scored Pharis to make it a two-run contest and put runners on second and third with one out. Blake Johnson gave the Blazers their final run as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Fullerton but a strikeout one batter later ended the game and the threat.
UAB closes its four-game road trip with a series at No. 10 Ole Miss, beginning Friday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. Games two and three are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. in both contests.
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).
UAB (9-4) recorded a season low six hits, while matching its fewest runs in a game this season as it fell to 0-2 on Tuesday mid-week contests during 2019.
"We got that tying run 90-feet away again," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Alabama is obviously a good club, off to an 11-2 start, but I felt like we helped them with a couple runs. We didn't turn a double play in their two-run inning and they pushed one across just after that and it was a pretty routine double play. We misplayed a very catchable ball in the outfield in the sixth inning which led to their last run. We don't give up those two we win, but it was a close game against a very good team on the road. Thankfully we get to practice tomorrow, I feel like we haven't practiced in forever because of the weather, so we get to work on some things before heading back on the road to Oxford."
J Paul Fullerton was the only Blazer to record a multi-hit game as the catcher went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. The junior is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, including a three-game multi-hit streak.
Graham Ashcraft (1-1) suffered his first career loss, allowing two runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work.
Alabama (11-2) struck in the bottom of the third inning as a fielder's choice plated the first run of the game followed by an infield RBI three batters later to give the Crimson Tide a 2-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide pushed their lead to three in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a leadoff home run, off the bat of Tyler Gentry to make the game 3-0.
The fourth Alabama run of the contest came in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Crimson Tide led off the inning with a triple into left field. Two batters later a sacrifice fly to center field scored the leadoff man, pushing Alabama's lead to 4-0.
The Blazers pushed their first run of the game across the plate in the top of the seventh inning as Fullerton hit a leadoff double into right center field before moving to third on a groundout three pitches later. Thomas Johns drove a pinch hit single up the middle, scoring Fullerton to make the game 4-1.
Carter Pharis led off the ninth inning with a walk followed by Fullerton's second hit of the game before Austin Triplett walked to load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch scored Pharis to make it a two-run contest and put runners on second and third with one out. Blake Johnson gave the Blazers their final run as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Fullerton but a strikeout one batter later ended the game and the threat.
UAB closes its four-game road trip with a series at No. 10 Ole Miss, beginning Friday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. Games two and three are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. in both contests.
For more information on the UAB baseball team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Garret Rukes (1-0)
L: Ashcraft, Graham (1-1)
S: Jeremy Randolph (2)

Batting:
2B: Fullerton, J Paul 1
RBI: Johns, Thomas 1 ; Johnson, Blake 1
SF: Johnson, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pharis, Carter 1 ; Fullerton, J Paul 2
SB: Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1
HBP: Morrow, Keegan 1

Batting:
2B: John Trousdale 1
3B: Joe Breaux 1
HR: Tyler Gentry 1
RBI: Brett Auerbach 1 ; Morgan McCullough 1 ; Tyler Gentry 2
SF: Morgan McCullough 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Joe Breaux 1 ; Brett Auerbach 1 ; Tyler Gentry 1 ; John Trousdale 1
CS: Tyler Gentry 1
Game Leaders
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