BIRMINGHAM – After taking an early lead, the UAB baseball team was unable to hang on as it fell to UNC Asheville, 7-4, on Saturday. The Blazers built up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, but a couple of strong innings by the Bulldogs to follow were enough to climb on top and secure the win.
Senior J Paul Fullerton was the most productive Blazer on the diamond Saturday, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and the game’s only homerun. Senior Tanner Rusk got the start on the mound for UAB, going 4.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
J Paul Fullerton got the UAB got the bats going first, roping one well over right field to put the Blazers on the board in the bottom of the second.
The action at the plate continued for UAB in the fourth inning as the Blazers plated two more. J Paul Fullerton got on once again with a single and found his way home on a fielder’s choice. Ian Ladner also made his way around the bases just a bag behind Fullerton, advancing home on another fielder’s choice to put the Blazers up 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs started to claw back. After a pair of walks, a double and subsequent sacrifice fly drove in two scores to cut the Blazer lead to one. UNC Asheville then followed that inning with three more runs by way of a bases-clearing double with a full base path in the sixth to jump on top, 5-3.
The Bulldogs increased their lead by one more in the top of the seventh behind a handful of singles, but UAB answered in the bottom of the frame with strikes from both Fullerton brothers. Pate got on to start with a single and made his way to second before J Paul also singled to drive him in.
Now leading 6-4, UNC Asheville tallied a final run in the eighth once again on a few singles. The Blazers were unable to cut into the Bulldog lead beyond that as UNC Asheville came out on top, 7-4.
The Blazers will wrap up the series against UNC Asheville with the rubber match on Sunday. The game is slated for the same 1 p.m. start at Regions Field. Live stat and streaming information for each game is available on the UAB baseball schedule page.
Fans may secure baseball season tickets by purchasing the 2020 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all baseball, softball and women’s basketball events for the remainder of the academic year. Mini plans and single game tickets are also available here. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
-Go Blazers-
