The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Ball State
Baseball Sweeps Ball State With 7-4 Victory
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Michael Busby pitched seven solid innings and Patrick Palmeiro launched a two-run homer to lead the UAB baseball team past Ball State 7-4 on Sunday afternoon to sweep the three-game series at Young Memorial Field.
“We still have some work to do offensively,” head coach Brian Shoop said. “Michael was again very, very good for us today.
“Wins are precious and sweeps are hard to come by and it was good weekend. We get back to work on Tuesday.”
UAB (5-2) received another strong starting pitching performance, this time from Busby, as the right-hander set career highs with 7.0 innings pitched and nine strikeouts to earn the victory. The senior surrendered just one Cardinal run (earned) on five hits, four of which were singles.
Busby allowed only three Ball State (1-4) base runners to advance past first in his seven frames on the mound. He also kept his infielders active, forcing the Cardinals to pound the ball into the ground for a total of 10 ground outs.
For the series, UAB starters combined to throw 21.2 innings and give up two earned runs on 10 hits for an ERA of 0.83. The trio of Busby, Ben Bullard and Dillon Napoleon struck out 21 batters and walked only one.
Palmeiro and Jeff Schalk were the primary forces on offense, totaling five of UAB’s 10 hits and knocking in four runs. Palmeiro finished the game 3-for-4, with his two-run blast and was a triple shy of the cycle.
Schalk ripped a pair of run scoring singles to finish the day 2-for-4 at the dish. Both Palmeiro and Schalk tied personal-bests for hits in a game.
“Pat had a good weekend. He is a dangerous hitter and I think his presence in the lineup concerns the other team,” Shoop said. “Obviously he had a big day for us today and it’s important to have someone swinging well behind him and Jeff (Schalk) did that today. You’ve got to have someone behind (Palmeiro) so they pitch to him.”
The Blazers had struggled to put up runs in the early portion of games in the first two contests of the series, but took little time in game three. Schalk roped a two-out single back through the box to plate Busby in the bottom of the first to take an early advantage.
BSU hurler T.J. Weir (0-1) matched Busby pitch for pitch through the first four frames as the Cardinals would even the score in the fourth on a RBI single by Tim Issler.
The tie score would last just one frame, as Palmeiro connected for a two-run big fly in the bottom of the fifth to take a two-run cushion.
Still leading by a pair entering the bottom of the seventh, UAB scored four times by using only two hits to blow the game open and hold a 7-1 lead. Highlighting the big inning were RBI singles by Schalk and pinch hitter Tyler Mims.
Up 7-1 heading into the top of the ninth, the Cardinals would not go down quietly. BSU crossed home three times with two down before UAB reliever Chase Mallard entered to retire the ever important 27th out to earn the save and the series sweep.
The Blazers return to action on Tuesday with a trip to Jacksonville State. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
