The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Three-Run Eighth Carries UAB Past Memphis, 9-8
5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 1, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Nick Crawford drove in a career-high four runs Friday night, and the UAB baseball team came from behind to open its weekend series against Memphis with a 9-8 win at Young Memorial Field.
The Blazers overcame an 8-6 deficit by scoring three runs in the eighth inning as they improved their record to 25-20 (7-9 Conference USA). Memphis dropped to 19-26 (5-11 C-USA) with the loss. The teams will meet again Saturday with the second game of the series at 2 p.m. (CT). The contest will air live in Birmingham on WSPZ-AM 690.
Jonathan Merritt and Brint Hardy each tripled in the three-run eighth for UAB. Merritt scored the game-tying run on an RBI groundout from Crawford, and a Cody McMurry ground ball with the infield drawn in was bobbled by the Memphis defense as Hardy crossed the plate for the go-ahead run.
Nick Graffeo came on to pitch the ninth inning, closing out the game to earn his fourth save of the season. After the leadoff batter singled in the ninth, Memphis designated hitter Cole Shelton rocketed a ball to right field that UAB outfielder Brint Hardy tracked down to keep the potential game-tying run on first base. Graffeo then retired the next three batters, two of them on strikeouts.
"The triples by Brint and Jonathan in the eighth inning were very well hit, but I thought the catch Brint made in the ninth was the play of the game," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "That sort of gets lost in the shuffle, but I don't think there are many guys that make that play. He just has the foot speed and the instincts."
Blake Huddleston earned the win, allowing two runs in 3.2 innings of relief, as the Blazers snapped a six-game losing streak to Memphis. Huddleston is now 3-0 on the mound this season. Jonathan Jones allowed all three UAB runs in the eighth to take the loss for the Tigers.
McMurry also tripled in the game for UAB as the Blazers racked up a season-high three triples in the game. UAB also tallied three doubles as six of its 10 hits went for extra-bases.
Jamal Austin led the Blazers with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, and it was his check-swing infield single that started the eighth-inning rally. Merritt, Hardy and McMurry also finished with multiple hits for UAB, while McMurry added a pair of RBI.
Crawford finished with just one hit in the game but drove in four runs with a two-RBI double, an RBI ground out and a fielder's choice that scored a run.
Crawford's double came as part of a five-run fourth inning against Memphis starter Brennon Martin as UAB opened up a 6-2 lead. But the Tigers responded with four runs of their own in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 6-6 and force UAB starter Beau Pender from the game.
Memphis took the lead with an unearned run in the seventh and pushed across another run in the top of the eighth on an Adam McClain single to take an 8-6 lead before UAB's rally in the bottom of the inning.
McClain led Memphis with a 3-for-5 performance offensively, while Shawn Ablett drove in a team-high three runs for the Tigers. All three of his RBI came on a home run as part of the four-run Memphis fifth.
