The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisiana Tech
Baseball Trumps LA Tech 7-0 in C-USA Opener
3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Freshman Carter Pharis led the UAB baseball team (7-11, 1-0 C-USA) to a 7-0 victory over LA Tech (9-5, 0-1 C-USA) on Friday night at Regions Field, claiming a win in its Conference USA opener.
Pharis drove in four runs on two hits, including a double, en route to his fourth multi-RBI game of the season. The four RBIs against the Bulldogs were the most since the first baseman batted in five against Ohio in February.
The pitching duo of starter Ryan Ruggles (2-1) and reliever Adam Lamar combined to give UAB its third shutout victory of the year and snap a five-game skid. The lefties held LA Tech to just three hits and two walks.
The Green and Gold jumped on Bulldog starter Tyler Clancy (3-2) early, plating six runs in the first and one in the second. Clancy tossed 2.1 innings, allowing all seven UAB runs on five hits and four walks, before giving way to reliever Jorge Flores.
After issuing back-to-back walks to Brewer Hicklen and Evan Peterson, Clancy gave up an RBI single to Esteban Tresgallo. Griffin Gum drew a walk to load the bases, and Pharis cleared them with a double to left center. Adam Smith plated the game’s fifth run on a bunt to the pitcher, scoring Mitch Williams, and junior Riley McCown took advantage of a throw to second to score from third.
UAB scored another insurance run in the second inning following Tresgallo’s being hit by a pitch and Gum’s singling to left. With the two seniors standing at first and second, Pharis lined his second hit of the game up the middle to score Tresgallo.
Following the second inning, the Blazers and Bulldogs mustered just one hit. The LA Tech hit in the eighth from designated hitter Garrett Dodd was the only hit given up by Lamar in 2.1 innings of work.
The Blazers and Bulldogs return to action Saturday at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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).
