The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Rice
Rice Takes Series Opener, 7-3, Over UAB Baseball Friday
4/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOUSTON, Texas - The UAB baseball team was outplayed 7-3 by Conference USA foe Rice Friday night in Houston. The 25th-ranked Owls held the Blazers scoreless in seven innings at Reckling Park.
The Green and Gold (11-19, 3-7 C-USA) managed three runs in the late inning to avoid the shutout, plating a run in the seventh and two in the eighth. Brewer Hicklen led the offense with a two-hit night, driving in a run and drawing two walks, but the late-inning rally wasn't enough to overcome the Rice lead.
The Owls (19-10, 8-2 C-USA) scored two quick runs in the first against UAB starting pitcher Tanner Graham (1-4) and continued to add on with a run in the second, fourth and sixth frames. The freshman received the loss while Rice hurler Jon Duplantier (3-3) picked up the win.
Dayne Wunderlich brought Graham's start to a close with a leadoff home run in the sixth, bringing Stephen Baggett out of the bullpen for one inning and Cory Eller for 1.1 innings. Rice capped off it's scoring with two run sin the seventh against Baggett.
The Blazers began chipping away at the Owls' lead in the seventh. Griffin Gum reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Adam Smith to score from third. The eighth saw UAB get two more runs courtesy a Smith RBI single and bases-loaded walk to Hicklen. With the bases loaded with Blazers, Rice went to the bullpen for closer Dane Myers. The reliever escaped the inning, leaving the bases loaded, and cruised through the ninth to earn his third save.
The two team are back in action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Reckling Park. Left-hander Ryan Ruggles is tabbed to start for UAB while Rice counters with Blake Fox.
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).
