BIRMINGHAM – The UAB baseball team claimed its first series win of the season after an 8-6 victory over Miami on Saturday. The win marked UAB’s fourth straight win and provides a sweep opportunity on Sunday.
The Blazers and Redhawks traded blows until a three-RBI double by redshirt sophomore Jess Davis in the bottom of the fifth capped a four-run inning that proved to be the difference.
Jess Davis was electric at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a season-high four RBI and a run scored on the day. Overall, the Blazers had six batters with double digit hits throughout the game.
On the bump, sophomore right-hander Tyler O’Clair got the start and went 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. Junior lefty Dylan Cunningham came away with his first win as a Blazer after 1.2 innings of work with no hits allowed while grad transfer right-hander Mac McCarthy tossed the final two innings with three strikeouts and one hit allowed for his fourth save of the young season.
“Yesterday was such a well-played, clean game. Today, I was happy for the kids to find a way to win,” said coach Brian Shoop. “It was a big day by Jess Davis, who’s a special player and starting to show that more regularly. He came out with four RBI after the biggest hit of the game in a bases-clearing double. We really had things go our way. Thank goodness Mac McCarty is on our team. He’s a special young man that has been lights out every time he’s touched the field.”
Miami managed to draw first blood, scoring a pair after recording three singles in the top of the third. UAB fired back in the bottom half though, matching the two previous scores. Freshman Chandler Simpson led off with a single to left center that was followed by a Jess Davis double in the gap. With two in scoring position, both Blazers found their way home on grounders to even the tally.
The Redhawks were on the attack again in the top of the fourth, first scoring two runners that had previously walked on a single. The Miami lead grew to 5-2 after another single, but UAB answered the call again in the bottom of the frame, drawing within one. Senior Colton Schultz swatted a leadoff single to start, and sophomore Pate Fullerton walked to put two on with one down. Jess Davis then picked up his first RBI on a single, and Justin Wiley followed suit as the Blazers trailed 5-4 after four.
After a quiet top half of the fifth for the Redhawks, UAB carried over its momentum at the plate to double its tally and take an 8-5 lead. Singles from redshirt junior Thomas Johns and Schultz got things started, and Pate Fullerton drove in Johns on an infield single. Simpson singled to follow, loading up the bases for Jess Davis. The Kearny, Mo., native delivered, juicing the bases on a double to deep center field to rack up four RBI and put the Blazers on top for the first time of the day.
While Miami inched closer with a run in the top of the seventh following a leadoff single and pair of doubles, that would be as close as the Redhawks could come. Senior Sylvester Toe recorded the final out of the inning before McCarty entered in the eighth and closed it out for the save and 8-6 UAB win.
The Blazers will have their first chance at a sweep this season as they close out the series with game three on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Young Memorial 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-
