The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama A&M
UAB Defeats Alabama A&M 12-1 In Tuesday Baseball Action
3/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Andrew Manning went 3-for-4 with two RBI on Tuesday and Trey Waltman earned his first win at UAB as the Blazer baseball team picked up a 12-1 victory over Alabama A&M at Young Memorial Field.
Jamal Austin and Ryan Ussery managed two hits each as nine players tallied a hit in the game for UAB (7-3). Austin and Digger Towe matched Manning with a pair of RBI.
Waltman, who had made two relief appearances this season, took the ball for his first start in Tuesday's game. The junior college transfer fired six innings of one-run baseball, scattering seven hits and striking out five. Of his 70 pitches, 50 went for strikes against Alabama A&M (10-2).
"Trey really pounded the strike zone today," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "Alabama A&M is a free-swinging team and they managed some hits off of him early, but he did a good job limiting the damage. I thought all of our guys pitched well."
After allowing seven base runners though the first three innings, Waltman faced the minimum over the next three. Then five UAB relievers, none of whom pitched longer than one inning, combined to hold the Bulldogs scoreless on three hits over the final three frames.
Alabama A&M starter Anderson Campbell had the Blazer hitters off balance in the early going, as well, allowing just one run through the opening three innings. But the Blazers picked up two runs in the fourth with the help of back-to-back triples from John Frost and Ussery. UAB then added one run in the fifth and scored five times in the sixth to blow the game open against the Alabama A&M bullpen.
"This was a tough game," Shoop said. "(Alabama A&M coach) Demetrius (Mitchell) has gone a great job with that team. They are much improved, and I would be surprised if they don't contend at the top of the SWAC."
The Blazers' sixth-inning scoring was highlighted by a two-RBI double from Austin as UAB batted around and scored its five runs on four hits and a pair of Alabama A&M errors. UAB then finished the scoring with three runs in the eighth.
Kency Duarte led Alabama A&M with a 2-for-4 performance and one RBI. Stevie Wimpeye, LaDale Hayes and Ronquis Jefferson also added two hits each for the Bulldogs. Campbell took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs, which also used six pitchers in the game.
UAB now travels to San Diego, Calif., for its first extended road trip of the year. The Blazers will play in the San Diego State Invitational starting Thursday with a 6 p.m. PT (8 p.m. CT) matchup with the host Aztecs. The trip also features games Friday at San Diego, Saturday versus San Francisco and Sunday versus Cal State Fullerton.
