The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Battle with Mississippi State on Saturday
10/13/2024 2:16:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM - Baseball was back in action on the Southside on Saturday as the Blazers hosted Mississippi State in two 7 inning games at Young Memorial Field.
"Overall, it was a positive day," said head coach Casey Dunn. "Our guys competed well. We didn't swing the bats well, but I believe we will end up being a good offensive team. I look forward to getting back to work Monday and continuing to improve the remainder of the fall."
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning Saturday. Noah Sullivan doubled home Bryce Chance and Sawyer Reaves drove in Hunter Hines to open the scoring for MSU. Mississippi State transfer Cole Cheatham took the mound in the top of the 3rd and threw two scoreless innings and struck out two.
The Blazers got on the board in the bottom of the 5th where they scored their only two runs of the first game. Pensacola State transfer Todd Clay singled home Gavin Lewis Jr. for UAB's first run of the game. Later in the inning, Logan Braunschweig scored on a double play to tie the game at 2.
Nathan Shelton and Chase Ingram finished the game for the Blazers on the mound in game 1. Shelton went two innings and picked up a strikeout in his Blazer debut. Chase Ingram threw the top of the 7th inning where he picked up three outs in four batters. UAB failed to score in the bottom of the 7th as the first half of the day ended in a 2-2 tie.
The beginning of the second half of the game was more of the same for the Bulldogs out of the gate. Braxton Shelton started for UAB and surrendered two unearned runs. Shelton State transfer Caleb Pittman took over for the Blazers. Pittman struck out four in his two innings of work, allowing one earned run off an RBI double by Lukas Buckner.
With the Blazers down 3-0, Jax Yoxtheimer got the UAB offense started with a bunt hit. Yoxtheimer then stole second base and later scored on a Tyler Harrington single to center field.
The Blazers bullpen would not allow an earned run the rest of the day as the final Bulldog run came on an RBI ground out by Lukas Buckner scoring Nate Chester.
UAB would not go down quietly as Braxton Brooks walked to start the ensuing inning. A wild pitch advanced Brooks to second. After a ground out to the pitcher that advanced Brooks to third, Auburn transfer Ty Mauldin doubled home Brooks for the Blazers second run of the game.
Chattahoochee Valley transfer Ryan Olson and Brooks House pitched the final two innings for the Green and Gold. The duo each gave up just one base runner in their respective innings of work.
Game Stats Overview
- Todd Clay: 1-2, 2 BB
- Nick Hollifield: 1-4, 2B
- Jaden Anderson: 1-3
- Wesley Helms: 2-3
- Alex Cheeseman: 1-2, BB
- Cole Cheatham: 2 IP, 2 K, 0 ER
- Nathan Shelton: 2 IP, 1 K, 0 ER
- Ty Mauldin: 1-4, 2B, RBI
- Tyler Harrington: 1-3, RBI
- Landon Beaver: 1-3
- Jake Merrick: 1-3
- John Paul Head: 1-3
- Mayes White: 1-3
- Braxton Shelton: 1 IP, 1 K, 0 ER
- Caleb Pittman: 2 IP, 4 K
- Brendan Conner: 1 IP, 1 K, 0 ER
