The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Kennesaw State
Resilient Effort Pushes UAB Baseball Past Owls, 8-5
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
KENNESAW, Ga. - Esteban Tresgallo lifted a pinch hit 2-run home run to left field before Griffin Gum delivered the go-ahead 2-RBI single, as the UAB baseball team rallied for five runs in the ninth to defeat Kennesaw State, 8-5, Sunday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
"We played a really good game," head coach Brian Shoop said. "Up 3-1 in the eighth and good by them, but a leadoff walk and then we shuffle on a bunt against a plus-runner, which they know not to do. That's the two runs that puts us behind and we end up with the bases loaded against one of their best guys."
UAB (9-4) took a 3-1 lead to the bottom half of the eighth, before the Owls (8-5) posted four to take a 5-3 advantage. But, the advantage didn't last long, as the Blazers rallied for five runs off six hits to surge past Kennesaw State in what was a tight game all day.
Chris Erwin, the Owls' closer who had allowed just one earned run in 10.2 IP on the season, entered to try and close it for the Owls in the ninth. After a strikeout to begin the frame, Tyler Mims dropped a single in shallow right, bringing the tying run to the plate. Esteban Tresgallo, who had sat all day in his day off, entered to pinch hit, and delivered the tying 2-run blast to left to make it 5-5.
The Blazers weren't done, as Nathan Vincent delivered in his return with a single to center with two out in the frame. After Chase Davis singled through the left side, Evan Peterson walked to setup the bases loaded for Griffin Gum. The redshirt junior singled down the line in left, sending home two, before Jeff Schalk singled up the middle to plate UAB's eighth and final run of the contest.
Gum went 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Tresgallo totaled two RBI off his home run. Adam Smith extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 1-for-4 day, as did Vincent in his streak of 10-straight with a hit after his single in the ninth. Chase Davis collected two RBI off his double in the gap to left-center in the second, finishing 2-for-5.
Johnny Lieske turned in his third quality start of the season, going six innings with six strikeouts and just one run allowed off two hits. Thomas Lowery tossed two innings, while Cory Eller entered to close it for his third save of the year.
Matt Morse pushed his reached base streak to 27 games dating back to last year, and Peterson and Mims also increased their streaks to seven games.
"Really impressive by our kids to lose two, and a disappointing one yesterday that we could have won, then have a lead get away from you in the eighth to come back in the ninth," Shoop said. "Esteban's home run, after sitting all day, is huge and we just kept banging them out. It's a great win by our kids and you'd like to win two, but after losing two and then losing the lead today, that's a big win."
UAB returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Troy at Regions Field for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Baseball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official Twitter account of UAB Athletics (@UABAthletics).
