The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, May 22
Clearwater, FL
3:30 p.m.
UAB
32-25
9
vs
6
Rice
35-24
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Rice | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
Four-Run Ninth Inning Fuels Blazer Comeback Win Over Rice
5/22/2026 9:58:00 PM | Baseball
CLEARWATER, Fla. - UAB Baseball won a rollercoaster of a game, defeating No. 3 Rice, 9-6, for UAB's first American Conference Championships win in program history. The comeback victory advanced the Blazers to the elimination bracket semifinal on Saturday. The Blazers led 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, before the Owls hit two sets of back-to-back home runs, taking a 6-5 lead. Alex Dupuy responded to the Rice outburst with a ninth-inning game-tying home run, then tacked on with back-to-back doubles from Andrew Hunt and Wesley Helms, totaling four runs in the ninth.
John Paul Head reached six times for the Blazers, being hit three times, walking, singling, and tripling. Head's performance was the first time a Blazer reached base six times in a game since Todd Clay recorded five hits and a walk last season vs Michigan State on March 9. Helms and Dupuy each had a pair of RBI, each including a ninth-inning RBI.
Mason Steele got the start for the Blazers, throwing five innings, allowing just one earned run on one hit. Steele struck out seven owls, including a fifth inning in which he struck out the side.
The Blazers took an early lead, getting John Paul Head on base on a hit by pitch, then over to third on a Landon Beaver single. Alex Dupuy flied out deep to center field, allowing Head to score on the sacrifice fly. Steele opened his evening with a clean, three-up-three-down inning.
After a pair of quick outs to start the second, Rice's starting pitcher, Ryland Urbanczyk, gave up three consecutive free passes, with a pair of walks and hitting Head for the second time. The Owls' defense cracked under the pressure of the loaded bases with a routine play to short, going between the legs of Kutter-Gage Webb, allowing two runs to score on the play. A hard line drive to left field stayed up long enough for Rice to get out of the inning.
Webb did as much as he could to make up for his error, sending a home run to deep right field to pull the Owls within two runs.
Steele and Urbanczyk honed in during the third and fourth innings, combining to allow just one base runner in two hitless frames.
The Blazers threatened to score in the fifth inning with a leadoff single by Head, his third time reaching base safely. Head advanced to second on a groundball, then took advantage of a failed pick off, advancing to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Urbanczyk forced a popout, getting himself out of the inning unscathed.
Steele threw a 17-pitch fifth inning, striking out all three batters he faced. Steele had to work for his first strikeout of the inning, earning an 0-2 count early before Webb fouled off a pair of pitches and watched two balls. Webb whiffed for the third time in the at-bat for Steele's fifth strikeout of the game. Steele got his second batter, Jacob Devenny, to whiff in a 2-2 count, before sneaking one by Cole Green to strikeout the side.
Hunt led off the sixth inning with a walk. Wesley Helms singled through the right side on a hit and run, advancing Hunt to third base. Austin Pierzynski laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, scoring Hunt to restore the UAB lead to three.
Head reached base the fourth time with a leadoff triple to left-center field. Despite being thrown out on a fielder's choice, Head's leadoff knock allowed Beaver to reach base. Beave would make his way around to home thanks to a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and another walk by Rice reliever, Ethan Atchley.
Rice flipped the script of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a pair of outs in the air, Masa Chilcutt and Hiram Bocachica Jr. hit back-to-back home runs. A single and a walk set up first and second for the Owls. Pinch hitter, Michael Zito, singled to centerfield, scoring Landon West before Zachary Daigre was thrown out at third base on a tight play by Kevin Hall Jr.
The Owls continued to slug in the eighth with another set of back-to-back home runs. Paul Smith and Garet Boehm each sent a pair of one-out homers to right field, marking the third set of consecutive homers given up by UAB pitching in Clearwater.
Dupuy responded with a leadoff home run to start the ninth inning. Dupuy's ninth long shot of the year was the Blazers' 81st of the season, tying the program record for the most home runs in a season.
Turning the momentum again, Brady Waugh singled, followed by back-to-back doubles by Hunt and Helms, scoring pinch runner Alex Cheeseman and Hunt. Helms reached third base on a groundout, then scored on a Baylor Roberts sacrifice bunt. Helms's run capped the scoring for the Blazers, giving UAB a 9-6 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Riley Miller returned to the mound for the ninth after allowing the home runs in the eighth inning. Miller avenged his own performance, forcing three straight groundball outs for a clean one-two-three inning to clinch the Blazer victory.
NOTES
Blazer student-athletes are provided every resource possible to be champions in competition and in life. The Blazer Made initiative was created to provide comprehensive programming in Personal Development, Leadership and Career Preparedness. Your support to Blazer Made is an investment in holistic education and a commitment to impact the future of each Blazer athlete who wears the Green & Gold. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success.
John Paul Head reached six times for the Blazers, being hit three times, walking, singling, and tripling. Head's performance was the first time a Blazer reached base six times in a game since Todd Clay recorded five hits and a walk last season vs Michigan State on March 9. Helms and Dupuy each had a pair of RBI, each including a ninth-inning RBI.
Mason Steele got the start for the Blazers, throwing five innings, allowing just one earned run on one hit. Steele struck out seven owls, including a fifth inning in which he struck out the side.
The Blazers took an early lead, getting John Paul Head on base on a hit by pitch, then over to third on a Landon Beaver single. Alex Dupuy flied out deep to center field, allowing Head to score on the sacrifice fly. Steele opened his evening with a clean, three-up-three-down inning.
After a pair of quick outs to start the second, Rice's starting pitcher, Ryland Urbanczyk, gave up three consecutive free passes, with a pair of walks and hitting Head for the second time. The Owls' defense cracked under the pressure of the loaded bases with a routine play to short, going between the legs of Kutter-Gage Webb, allowing two runs to score on the play. A hard line drive to left field stayed up long enough for Rice to get out of the inning.
Webb did as much as he could to make up for his error, sending a home run to deep right field to pull the Owls within two runs.
Steele and Urbanczyk honed in during the third and fourth innings, combining to allow just one base runner in two hitless frames.
The Blazers threatened to score in the fifth inning with a leadoff single by Head, his third time reaching base safely. Head advanced to second on a groundball, then took advantage of a failed pick off, advancing to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Urbanczyk forced a popout, getting himself out of the inning unscathed.
Steele threw a 17-pitch fifth inning, striking out all three batters he faced. Steele had to work for his first strikeout of the inning, earning an 0-2 count early before Webb fouled off a pair of pitches and watched two balls. Webb whiffed for the third time in the at-bat for Steele's fifth strikeout of the game. Steele got his second batter, Jacob Devenny, to whiff in a 2-2 count, before sneaking one by Cole Green to strikeout the side.
Hunt led off the sixth inning with a walk. Wesley Helms singled through the right side on a hit and run, advancing Hunt to third base. Austin Pierzynski laid down a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, scoring Hunt to restore the UAB lead to three.
Head reached base the fourth time with a leadoff triple to left-center field. Despite being thrown out on a fielder's choice, Head's leadoff knock allowed Beaver to reach base. Beave would make his way around to home thanks to a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and another walk by Rice reliever, Ethan Atchley.
Rice flipped the script of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a pair of outs in the air, Masa Chilcutt and Hiram Bocachica Jr. hit back-to-back home runs. A single and a walk set up first and second for the Owls. Pinch hitter, Michael Zito, singled to centerfield, scoring Landon West before Zachary Daigre was thrown out at third base on a tight play by Kevin Hall Jr.
The Owls continued to slug in the eighth with another set of back-to-back home runs. Paul Smith and Garet Boehm each sent a pair of one-out homers to right field, marking the third set of consecutive homers given up by UAB pitching in Clearwater.
Dupuy responded with a leadoff home run to start the ninth inning. Dupuy's ninth long shot of the year was the Blazers' 81st of the season, tying the program record for the most home runs in a season.
Turning the momentum again, Brady Waugh singled, followed by back-to-back doubles by Hunt and Helms, scoring pinch runner Alex Cheeseman and Hunt. Helms reached third base on a groundout, then scored on a Baylor Roberts sacrifice bunt. Helms's run capped the scoring for the Blazers, giving UAB a 9-6 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Riley Miller returned to the mound for the ninth after allowing the home runs in the eighth inning. Miller avenged his own performance, forcing three straight groundball outs for a clean one-two-three inning to clinch the Blazer victory.
NOTES
- The Blazers' win marked the first time UAB Baseball has won an American Conference Championship Game.
- Dupuy's ninth-inning home run tied the UAB program record for homers in a season with 81.
- The Blazers walked seven times on Friday, bringing the season total to 289, tied for the most in program history.
- Dupuy started off the UAB scoring with his fifth sacrifice fly of the season, the 30th by the team this season. 30 sacrifice flies are tied for the second most in UAB history.
- UAB's 32 wins this season are the most in a year since 2015 (33).
- The Blazers won on a neutral site for the first time in 2026, now 1-2 on the season.
- UAB won its third game of the season when trailing entering the ninth inning.
- Head reached base safely six times with three hit-by-pitches, a single, a triple, and a walk. He is the first Blazer to reach base six times since Clay Todd on March 9, 2025, vs Michigan State (five singles, walk).
- Head became the fifth player in UAB history to be hit three times in a game, the first since Cole Collins on March 1, 2018.
- Head extended his on-base streak to 21 games. Hall Jr. and Hunt each extended their on-base streaks to 17 games.
- Waugh extended his hit streak to 10 games.
- Blazers were hit four times, tied for the most in a game this season.
- UAB's three sacrifice hits were the most in a game this season.
- Hall Jr. recorded his sixth assist of the season from the outfield.
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Blazer student-athletes are provided every resource possible to be champions in competition and in life. The Blazer Made initiative was created to provide comprehensive programming in Personal Development, Leadership and Career Preparedness. Your support to Blazer Made is an investment in holistic education and a commitment to impact the future of each Blazer athlete who wears the Green & Gold. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Miller, Riley (5-0)
L: Ty Thames (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Hunt, Andrew 1 ; Helms, Wesley 1
3B: Head, John Paul 1
HR: Dupuy, Alex 1
RBI: Dupuy, Alex 2 ; Hunt, Andrew 1 ; Helms, Wesley 2 ; Pierzynski, Austin 1 ; Roberts, Baylor 1
SH: Pierzynski, Austin 2 ; Roberts, Baylor 1
SF: Dupuy, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hall Jr., Kevin 1 ; Head, John Paul 1 ; Beaver, Landon 1 ; Dupuy, Alex 1 ; Cheeseman, Alex 1 ; Hunt, Andrew 2 ; Helms, Wesley 1 ; Roberts, Baylor 1
SB: Roberts, Baylor 1
HBP: Head, John Paul 3 ; Hunt, Andrew 1
Batting:
HR: Paul Smith 1 ; Garet Boehm 1 ; Kutter-Gage Webb 1 ; Hiram Bocachica Jr. 1
RBI: Michael Zito 1 ; Paul Smith 1 ; Garet Boehm 1 ; Kutter-Gage Webb 1 ; Hiram Bocachica Jr. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Paul Smith 1 ; Garet Boehm 1 ; Kutter-Gage Webb 1 ; Masa Chilcutt 1 ; Hiram Bocachica Jr. 1 ; Landon West 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
6
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
INF
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