The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
UAB Pounds Houston 10-2 In Sunday's Series Finale
3/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas -- The UAB baseball team closed out its weekend with a win Sunday, defeating Houston 7-2 in the final game of this weekend's Conference USA series at Cougar Field.
Digger Towe managed a career-high four hits in the game for UAB and also tallied three RBI. Austin Taylor and Cody McMurry also recorded a pair of RBI for the Blazers. Towe and Taylor both drove in runs as part of a five-run fourth inning that opened things up for UAB.
Kyle Roberson improved to 3-2 by earning the win. He scattered six hits and allowed two runs over 5.2 innings. Frank Corolla took the loss after entering out of the Houston bullpen and surrendering five runs -- one earned -- in 1.2 innings. Blake Huddleston pitched the final 3.1 innings for UAB to earn his first save.
The Blazers (11-9, 1-2 C-USA) did most of their damage Sunday with two outs. Nine of the Blazers' 10 runs were of the two-out variety as they salvaged the final game of the three-game series and snapped a three-game losing skid.
"We're thankful to come back and get one this weekend," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "It's a long season, but you want to win every one you can. Last night's 6-5 loss was a tough one to swallow, but we're glad to get this one today."
UAB used a two-out rally in the opening inning to jump out on top for the first time in the series. Brint Hardy and McMurry drew back-to-back walks, Hardy stole his way to third, and the senior outfielder came home to score on an RBI single from Towe.
Houston (6-16, 2-1 C-USA) answered back with a two-out run of its own in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an RBI single from William Kankel to even the game at 1-1.
UAB loaded the bases with one out in the third inning, but Corolla came out of the Houston bullpen to retire the next two batters and get of the jam with the game still tied.
But the Blazers didn't let their opportunity pass by in the fourth inning. UAB sent nine batters to the plate, recording four hits and using the help of three Houston errors to score five runs in the frame.
Nick Crawford reached on a fielder's choice to plate Andrew Manning from third, and the Blazers did the rest of their damage with two outs. Crawford came around to score all the way from first as the result of two Houston errors on a failed pickoff attempt. Towe then singled a run home, and Taylor added a two-RBI double as UAB opened up a 6-1 lead.
UAB tacked on its seventh run of the day in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single from Towe. The Blazers also scored three runs in the ninth with two outs on a bases-loaded walk from Hardy and a two-RBI double from McMurry.
After allowing Houston's first batter of the game to score, Roberson kept the Cougars off the scoreboard until the sixth inning when Taylor White brought Kankel home on a sacrifice fly. Roberson then handed the ball off to Huddleston, who carried the Blazers through the final 3.1 innings without allowing a run.
UAB returns to action this week with a pair of games against Alabama. The Blazers will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch before hosting the Crimson Tide Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Regions Park.
