The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Ohio
UAB Baseball Drops 2-1 Contest, Ohio Avoids Sweep
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team fell 2-1 to Ohio on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field despite a solid outing by the Blazers' pitching.
Starting pitcher Tanner Graham and reliever Thomas Lowery allowed only five hits to the Ohio offense in the series finale. Bobcat outfielder Tony Giannini played the role of hero, hitting the game-winning two-run home run in the seventh.
The UAB offense collected just three hits against Ohio pitchers Jake Rudnicki and Eddie Fitzpatrick. Rudnicki threw eight strong innings, giving up just one run while striking out 10, and Fitzpatrick earned the save in one inning of relief.
"You have to tip your cap to Rudnicki," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "He was outstanding, but it's more of the same. We struck out too many times, and we left 10 guys on. That's twice we've lost 2-1 this year, and you can't lose games when your pitchers give up two runs. It's an offensive loss."
Birmingham's lone run came in the bottom of the second, which gave the Blazers the advantage for four innings. Riley McCown was hit by a pitch, and Jacob Armstrong reached first on an error, setting up an RBI single up the middle for senior Adam Smith.
The lead held until Giannini's two-run shot landed in the UAB bullpen with two outs in the seventh. Lowery was charged with his first loss of the season, while Graham received no decision.
Carter Pharis, Jared Nixon and Smith were responsible for UAB's three hits. Pharis doubled in the sixth, and Nixon lined a pinch-hit single to center in the ninth; but the late-inning effort from the Blazer bats was not enough to catch the Bobcats.
"Tomorrow is an off day so we can recover, and our guys are loaded down with classes on Mondays," Shoop said. "We have games Tuesday and Wednesday against two quality opponents, and we are going to go deep into our pitching pool. There'll be guys seeing time on the mound who haven't pitched yet, and we'll see if we can improve on the offensive end.
The Blazers resume play Tuesday, March 1, as they take on Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field on the Samford University campus. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The team is back at home at Regions Field the following afternoon to host Troy at 4 p.m.
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 social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
--UABSports.com--
