The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
Samford Comeback Spoils Night For Blazers In 11-10 Loss
4/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 21, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Center fielder Jamal Austin and catcher Jacob German belted their first collegiate home runs Wednesday night, but the UAB baseball team saw a six-run lead disappear as Samford came from behind to sneak out an 11-10 victory at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
On a night in which the teams combined for six total homers, it was a bases-loaded walk that tied the game and a sacrifice fly that plated the winning run for Samford, which earned a sweep of the midweek, home-and-home series.
The Bulldogs trailed, 10-8, heading into the bottom of the eighth, but right fielder Trey Hayes followed a leadoff walk and a double with an RBI single to bring Samford within one run. After a hit batter loaded the bases, shortstop Austin Allison drew a free pass to tie the game, and second baseman Michael Johnson then scored Hayes from third on a fly ball to left field as the Bulldogs took their first lead of the night.
Samford reliever Andrew Jones then came on to pitch the ninth, striking out all three Blazers he faced to preserve the win and earn the save as the Bulldogs improved to 23-14 on the year. UAB fell to 20-17 with the loss.
"This is one of the more disappointing losses we've had since I've been here," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "We're at a low point in our season right now, but I know our guys will keep working, and hopefully we can turn it around."
While Austin and German were hitting their first homers, first baseman Luke Stewart belted his team-leading 11th of the season and the 39th of his career. The three home runs matched a season-high for UAB, but all of them were of the solo variety. The Blazer offense actually did more of its damage in a five-run second inning without the benefit of a long ball.
By the time German went deep in the sixth, UAB had built an 8-2 advantage. But Samford plated nine runs over its final three at-bats to come back.
The Bulldogs scored four times in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run homer from first baseman Bo Smith, to cut the UAB lead to two and force Blazer starter Benji Waite from the game. Waite, who began his college career at Samford before transferring to UAB, took a no-decision after working five and one-third innings and striking out seven.
The teams matched each other with a pair of runs in the seventh inning before the Bulldogs' three-run eighth put them on top.
Ryan Woolley took the loss in a relief effort for UAB after being charged with the final three Samford runs. Samford's Tyler Vanderheiden pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings and earned the win as the pitcher of record when Samford grabbed the lead. Vanderheiden was one of seven Samford pitchers to see the mound in the game.
Austin led UAB with three hits, while German and designated hitter John Frost each added two. Frost and German both drove in runs as part of UAB's five-run second inning, and Ryan Ussery also had a run-scoring triple in the second.
A night after having his 12-game hitting streak snapped, Austin wasted no time getting back on track Wednesday. The sophomore center fielder hit his homer to lead off the game on his way to a 3-for-5 night at the plate.
UAB returns to action this weekend with a three-game, non-conference series against Manhattan at Young Memorial Field. The Blazers and Jaspers are scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. CT and a single game Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
