The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Creighton
Baseball Drops 2-1 Decision to Creighton on Friday
3/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. - The UAB baseball team fell 2-1 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday night, dropping the first of a three-game series to Creighton.
"It was a really well-played college baseball game," head coach Brian Shoop said. "We had good at-bats, but their starting pitcher is really good. He made it really hard to score. We had a few opportunities, but the ball went right to someone every time we had a chance. We really hit the ball hard tonight."
Sophomore Ryan Ruggles and junior Dylan Munger combined to hold the Jays to two runs on seven hits, but a bumpy first inning served Creighton enough for the win.
Ruggles found himself and the Blazers in a 2-0 hole early. Creighton plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Nicky Lopez plated Daniel Woodrow with a single up the middle, and a double play off the bat of Harrison Crawford scored Ryan Fitzgerald.
After laboring in the first inning on 29 pitches, Ruggles went on to throw five more innings without allowing another run. The left-hander gave up just four more hits and struck out two batters.
UAB found its way onto the board in the fourth with a couple of hits from a pair of freshmen. Carter Pharis laced a two-out double to left, and Riley McCown lined a single up the middle to cut the Bluejays' lead in half.
Creighton starter Rollie Lacy picked up the win after six innings of work. The right-hander improved to 3-1, held the Blazers to seven hits and struck out six batters. Relievers John Oltman and Conner Miller combined to toss the final three innings, holding the UAB bats to no hits and striking out four.
Five UAB batters recorded hits Friday night. Both Evan Peterson and Brewer Hicklen were 2-for-4, while Esteban Tresgallo, Pharis and McCown accounted for the remainder. Hicklen, Peterson, Tresgallo and Pharis each roped doubles.
The two teams are back in action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. with Sunday's game scheduled for noon. Freshman Tanner Graham is scheduled to start Saturday against the Bluejays. Creighton will start right-hander Matt Warren.
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).
