The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Solid Pitching, Home Runs Propel UAB Baseball to 8-3 Win Over Memphis
5/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2010
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Solid pitching from righthanders Beau Pender and Nick Graffeo, combined with a trio of home runs, propelled the UAB baseball team to an 8-3 win over the Memphis Tigers on Saturday afternoon at FedEx Park.
Pender (6-3) allowed just one hit through his first 4.2 innings of work, shutting out the Tigers during that span. He tossed six innings, fanned four Tigers and allowed three runs on eight hits in his sixth win of the season. Graffeo was nearly perfect over the final three frames, picking up his sixth save after giving up just one hit and retiring the final eight batters in a row, including three strikeouts.
"The game usually starts and ends on the mound, and Beau was outstanding for us today," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "He allowed us an opportunity to take the lead, then Nick was fantastic in the final three innings."
Designated hitter Benji Waite, who is scheduled to start on the mound for the Blazers in Sunday's series finale, smashed his second career home run and first since transferring to UAB from Samford. Shortstop Jonathan Merritt went deep for the third straight game, while first baseman Luke Stewart added his team-leading 16th long ball of the season.
Seven different Blazers had at least one hit, six crossed the plate and five drove in a run, led by third baseman John Frost. Frost finished the day 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI, while second baseman Nick Crawford went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
UAB (23-21, 7-10 C-USA) roughed up Memphis starter Ryan Fraser (6-2) for six runs on seven hits through five innings, then collected two more runs off reliever Dane Sharp. The Tigers fall to 23-23 on the season and 11-9 in Conference USA.
Frost got things rolling for the Blazers with a leadoff base-knock in the second before Stewart's blast gave the Blazers a 2-0 lead. The third baseman led off again in the fourth and again crossed the plate on catcher Jacob German's grounder to second.
The Blazers blew the game open in the fifth, scoring three runs to take a 6-1 lead. Crawford knocked an infield single before Merritt blasted a two-run shot over the wall in left-center. Waite followed with a solo shot to right-center two batters later.
Memphis broke up the shutout in the fifth with a two-out double followed by Tiger center fielder Drew Martinez' single through the right side to make it 6-1.
Although the Tigers tacked on two more runs in the sixth to make it 6-3, UAB's heads up defense prevented any further damage. Blazer left fielder Bradley Hicks pegged one runner out at home plate and center fielder Jamal Austin caught another Tiger in a rundown to end the inning and Memphis' scoring opportunity.
UAB added a run in the seventh and eighth innings thanks to a pair of Memphis errors.
The Blazers and Tigers conclude the series on Sunday at FedEx Park. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
