Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Blazers sweep past Bulldogs 9-2
People who came to Joe Lee Griffin Field Wednesday night looking for another offensive display were probably disapointed. Except, of course, UAB fans. They saw their Blazers beat Samford 9-2. The win completed a midweek sweep for the Blazers over their city rivals.
“It's hard to score 17 runs, I'll take 9 any time,” said a laughing UAB coach Brian Shoop.
After Tuesday's 17-7 slugfest, even an 11 run game seemed tame, although it's not fair to say pitching dominated the game. UAB picked up 2 runs in the top of the first, almost equaling their first-inning output from Tuesday.
Samford starter Josh Martin gave up 3 runs through the first 2 innings and took the loss, moving his season record to 0 and 3. UAB reliever Colin McMurry earned his first win of the season, pitching a perfect 8th inning.
The Bulldogs, for their part, scored 2 in the first 3 innings off of UAB starter Shay Crawford and reliever Kyle Roberson and kept things close at 3-2 for a while before UAB finally pulled away in the 5th.
During that 5th inning, the Blazers capitalized on 4 walks issued by Bulldog pitchers, using singles by Brint Hardy and Jonathan Merritt to take control of the game, scoring 4 runs to take a 7-2 lead.
The Bulldogs had one further opportunity, loading the bases with two outs in the 6th, but catcher Brad Moss couldn't come through with a clutch hit, instead flying out to center field.
The Blazers continued to expand their lead with an Andrew Manning sacrifice fly in the 7th and a solo Home Run by Cody McMurry in the 9th. Manning paced the Blazers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a Home Run and 3 RBI's. Cody McMurry was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's and that Home Run for UAB.
Leadoff hitter Wayne Miller was big for the Bulldogs, going 2 for 5 with a triple and a double.
UAB now looks forward to this weekend's Conference USA series with league leading and nationally ranked East Carolina. The Pirates come to Birmingham riding a 2 game midweek winning streak, and having won 12 of their last 13.
The Pirates are 2.5 games ahead of UAB in the Conference USA standings and the Blazers will look to make up some ground and avenge last year's 3 game sweep. The three game series will start on Friday at 7 PM, and continues Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM and 11 AM. All games will be at Young Memorial Field on UAB's campus.
“It's hard to score 17 runs, I'll take 9 any time,” said a laughing UAB coach Brian Shoop.
After Tuesday's 17-7 slugfest, even an 11 run game seemed tame, although it's not fair to say pitching dominated the game. UAB picked up 2 runs in the top of the first, almost equaling their first-inning output from Tuesday.
Samford starter Josh Martin gave up 3 runs through the first 2 innings and took the loss, moving his season record to 0 and 3. UAB reliever Colin McMurry earned his first win of the season, pitching a perfect 8th inning.
The Bulldogs, for their part, scored 2 in the first 3 innings off of UAB starter Shay Crawford and reliever Kyle Roberson and kept things close at 3-2 for a while before UAB finally pulled away in the 5th.
During that 5th inning, the Blazers capitalized on 4 walks issued by Bulldog pitchers, using singles by Brint Hardy and Jonathan Merritt to take control of the game, scoring 4 runs to take a 7-2 lead.
The Bulldogs had one further opportunity, loading the bases with two outs in the 6th, but catcher Brad Moss couldn't come through with a clutch hit, instead flying out to center field.
The Blazers continued to expand their lead with an Andrew Manning sacrifice fly in the 7th and a solo Home Run by Cody McMurry in the 9th. Manning paced the Blazers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a Home Run and 3 RBI's. Cody McMurry was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's and that Home Run for UAB.
Leadoff hitter Wayne Miller was big for the Bulldogs, going 2 for 5 with a triple and a double.
UAB now looks forward to this weekend's Conference USA series with league leading and nationally ranked East Carolina. The Pirates come to Birmingham riding a 2 game midweek winning streak, and having won 12 of their last 13.
The Pirates are 2.5 games ahead of UAB in the Conference USA standings and the Blazers will look to make up some ground and avenge last year's 3 game sweep. The three game series will start on Friday at 7 PM, and continues Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM and 11 AM. All games will be at Young Memorial Field on UAB's campus.
# posted by Chris Rodgers @ 4/01/2009 11:10:00 PM 
