The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

UAB Closes Homestand With 12-9 Victory over Alabama State
5/1/2019 11:05:00 PM | Baseball
UAB (20-25) completed the season sweep over Alabama State and has now won four of its last midweek contests, dating back to Samford on March 26 at Regions Field.
"We got a lot of guys in the game and we got a win," head coach Brian Shoop said. "We have won three out of four, completed series sweeps over Alabama State, Troy and Samford and so that's good. We'll head to Miami at 7 a.m. in the morning and try to keep it going."
Ian Ladner remained hot at the plate, extending his home run streak to four games as he finished the night with three runs on three hits and a pair of RBIs, while also drawing a walk.
Tyler Tolbert also recorded multiple hits in the contest, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored and a season best three RBIs.
On the base paths Jess Davis continued to do what the freshman does best, swiping four bases, including three in one at-bat. One of the nation's best at swiping bases, the Kansas City, Mo., native raised his total to 41 on the season, moving into sole possession of third all-time in a single season in UAB history.
On the mound Luke Eigsti (1-0) earned his first career win, avenging his only career loss at Alabama State in extra innings last season. The senior allowed no runs on no hits with three walks and a strikeout over 1.1 innings of work. A combined 10 UAB pitchers saw action in tonight's victory.
UAB struck early in the contest in the bottom of the first inning as Colton Schultz gave the Blazers their first hit of the night with a one-out single. He was followed with a walk to Carter Pharis and Ladner being hit by a pitch to load the bases for Tolbert who hit a bases clearing triple to give UAB a 3-0 lead.
Alabama State scored its first run in the top of the second inning, forcing UAB pay for a wild pitch to make it a 3-1 game.
The Blazers picked up the lost run in the home half of the second as Justin Wiley drew a one out walk. A throwing error advanced the shortstop into scoring position, followed by a stolen base to move him within 90-feet. Two batters later Schultz grounded out to the right side, scoring Wiley and pushing UAB's lead back to three.
The Hornets tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, plating three runs on four hits, knotting the game at four.
J. Davis kept the bottom of the fourth inning alive, drawing a two-out walk. The freshman proceeded to swipe second, third and home all with Schultz at the plate to give UAB back the lead at 5-4.
Alabama State tied the game for the second time in the top of the sixth inning as the Blazers walked in a run with the bases loaded to make it a 5-5 game.
The Green and Gold busted the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating five runs on just three hits. Wiley began the inning with a single to left field before taking second on a stolen base and third on a wild pitch before Schultz hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Wiley. Zack Davis made it a two-run game with a solo shot, his sixth of the season. Pharis, Ladner and Tolbert kept the inning alive, drawing three consecutive walks before Nathan Anthes drove a single into left center field, scoring Pharis and Ladner and moving Tolbert to third who would score a batter later on a wild pitch, making it a 10-5 contest.
UAB's final two runs of the game came in the bottom of the eighth inning as Pharis single up the middle, followed by Ladner's home run for the Blazers' 11th and 12th runs of the game.
The Hornets threatened in the top of the ninth inning, scoring four runs on a pair of hits and forced UAB to use four pitchers in the inning but it was Austin Stump who got the strikeout to end the game and the threat.
UAB resumes Conference USA play this weekend when it begins a weekend series at FIU on Friday, May 3. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball) or on Instagram (UAB_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eigsti, Luke (2-0)
L: Bezares, Manny (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Jimenez, Angel 1 ; Rivera, Jorge 1
3B: Hearn, Cameron 1
RBI: Pagan, Yamil 1 ; Lewis, Chris 3 ; Cheneau, Noel 2 ; Jimenez, Angel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pagan, Yamil 1 ; Hearn, Cameron 1 ; Jimenez, Angel 2 ; DeGuzman, Cristopher 1 ; Jurjevich, Trevor 2 ; Rivera, Jorge 2
SB: Pagan, Yamil 1 ; DeGuzman, Cristopher 1
HBP: Pagan, Yamil 1 ; Jurjevich, Trevor 1
PO: Lewis, Chris 1 ; DeGuzman, Cristopher 1

Batting:
3B: Tolbert, Tyler 1
HR: Davis, Zack 1 ; Ladner, Ian 1
RBI: Schultz, Colton 2 ; Davis, Zack 1 ; Ladner, Ian 2 ; Tolbert, Tyler 3 ; Anthes, Nathan 2
SF: Schultz, Colton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis, Jess 1 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Davis, Zack 1 ; Pharis, Carter 3 ; Ladner, Ian 3 ; Tolbert, Tyler 1 ; Wiley, Justin 2
SB: Davis, Jess 4 ; Schultz, Colton 1 ; Wiley, Justin 2
HBP: Davis, Jess 1 ; Ladner, Ian 1