BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB used four runs in the middle innings to rally past UTSA baseball, 4-2, on Friday night at Young Memorial Field.
UTSA (17-18, 9-11 Conference USA) opened the scoring with a single tally in the second but UAB scored the next four run – including runs in the fourth and sixth and a two-run seventh – to take a 4-1 lead. UTSA cut into the lead with a pair of doubles to open the eighth.
The Roadrunners were led at the plate by two-hit games from senior catcher Nick Thornquist and sophomore Leyton Barry. UTSA had nine knocks in the game, also getting hits from Griffin Paxton, Shea Gutierrez, Joshua Lamb, Jonathan Tapia and Ryan Hunt.
UTSA starter Pepper Jones (0-1) worked a career-long 5.2 innings, allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits with a walk and a career-high five strikeouts. He retired the first 10 hitters he faced before an unearned run scored in the fourth and after a two-out sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, UTSA turned to junior lefty Grant Miller in relief.
Miller worked out of the jam with a key out before giving way to senior right-hander Hunter Mason to open the seventh. Mason got a pair of outs in the seventh, allowing two runs, before freshman Shane Anderson took over on the bump. Anderson struck out all four of his outs, allowing just a walk.
UAB (14-27, 7-14 C-USA) starter Riley Davis (4-3) worked eight innings, allowing two runs on nine hits and a walk, striking out nine. After a leadoff single in the ninth, UAB turned to Brady Greene.
The series will resume on Saturday with a pair of seven-inning games, starting at 1 p.m.
The Roadrunners struck first in the top of the second inning, getting a leadoff infield single from Lamb, who stole second base and scored after Tapia fought off a 2-2 offering with a high-hopping single up the middle.
In the bottom of the fourth, UAB rallied to tie the game, getting a one-out single from Jess Davis, who stole second and took third on a throwing error on the stolen base. Colton Schultz scored Davis with an RBI groundout on the right side.
The Blazers took their first lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, loading the bases with one out. Schultz then forced home Pate Fullerton with a sacrifice fly out to left.
UAB added on in the seventh, getting a two-run single from Fullerton to stretch the lead to 4-1, scoring Darryl Buggs and John Mark Mullins.
UTSA got a run back in the top of the eighth, getting a leadoff double from Gutierrez, who scored on a double down the rightfield line from Paxton.
GAME NOTES: Sophomore RHP Pepper Jones worked in his fourth game of the year and made his third start … Junior SS Joshua Lamb has an eight-game hitting streak … Lamb stole his fourth base of 2021 and the sixth of his career … Sophomore DH Leyton Barry stole his second base of the year and the sixth of his career … Jones worked a career-long in innings pitched (5.2) and struck out a career-high (five) … Junior LHP Grant Miller worked in his 12th game of the year … Senior RHP Hunter Mason worked in his team-leading 15th game of the year and the 60th of his career … Freshman RHP Shane Anderson pitched in his fourth career game … Junior 2B Shea Gutierrez doubled for the second time on the year … Senior C Nick Thornquist has reached base safely in 13 straight … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton doubled for the 11th time in 2021 and the 25th time in his three-year career … Junior CF Dylan Rock has reached base safely in 13 straight games … Freshman OF Chris Shull was used as a pinch hitter for the first time in his career, playing in his sixth career game … Anderson set a new career high in strikeouts … UTSA is 3-2 all-time against UAB.
- UTSA -
