The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Creighton
UAB Loses One-Run Game to Creighton on Sunday
3/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. -- The UAB baseball team fell 4-3 to Creighton University on Sunday afternoon at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, dropping its second one-run game of the series.
The Bluejays claimed the sweep of the Blazers behind yet another strong pitching performance to wrap up their home opener. While holding UAB to just three hits through nine innings, a rocky start from starting pitcher Austin Groth gave the Green and Gold an early lead.
A shakeup in the Blazers' lineup yielded two runs in the first inning. Leadoff man Esteban Tresgallo was hit by a pitch, and Evan Peterson singled on a bunt to the pitcher. With the one and two spots on base, Brewer Hicklen dribbled a soft grounder to first to score Tresgallo from third. Catcher Mitch Williams brought Peterson home three batters later with a sacrifice fly to right-center.
The Bluejays claimed a run in the bottom of the first and took a one-run lead in the second on five hits. Reagan Fowler doubled to right to plate Ryan Fitzgerald in the first, and two runs crossed on a Daniel Woodrow single to center, scoring Harrison Crawford and Brett Murray.
Creighton added an insurance run in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 4-2. Kevin Connolly tripled to the track in left-center to lead off the inning, and Keith Oren followed up with a sacrifice fly to right to plate the speedy outfielder.
Williams pulled the Blazers within one run in the sixth with an RBI groundout to first. Hicklen reached on a walk, then proceeded to swipe second and third. Carter Pharis drew a walk in the next at-bat, and Williams followed up with his groundball to the first-base bag.
UAB reliever Garrett Whitlock kept the Blazers within one run of the Bluejays. The freshman tossed four innings of relief, yielding just one hit while striking out three. He retired the game's last 12 batters in order, but the offense was not able to answer the call in the late innings.
The Green and Gold returns to Birmingham for a two-game set with Ole Miss on Tuesday and Wednesday at Regions Field. Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday's game is a special 11:30 a.m. start.
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).
