BIRMINGHAM – The UAB baseball team dropped a heartbreaker in its 2020 opener against Notre Dame, falling 4-2 on Friday. The Blazers put themselves in position to tie the game or take the lead by loading the bases with one out, but were unable to push any runs home.
Senior Austin Bohannon pitched a gem to contain the Fighting Irish, tossing a no-no through a career-high 6.1 innings. At the plate, redshirt sophomore Jess Davis put in a solid performance from the leadoff spot, going 1-for-2 with a run scored and a pair of walks. Colton Schultz made the Blazers’ biggest impact with one swing by roping a two-RBI double down the right-field line.
“Bohannon was awesome. It’s really exciting to get that kind of start from him,” said coach Brian Shoop. “It was a great first game. There’s a reason there were 12 scouts here to see their guy too. They ran three big arms out there, and we fought till the end. I thought it would be a pretty fun game to watch
The Blazers and Fighting Irish were locked through the first six innings as Bohannon and Notre Dame’s Tommy Sheehan burned through their opponents’ lineups. Jess Davis broke through for the Blazers for the first hit of the game with a triple in the bottom of the sixth, but Notre Dame answered in the top of the seventh following a couple of UAB pitching changes by scoring a pair off a single and a wild pitch.
The Fighting Irish increased their lead to four in their next chance at the top of the eighth, sending two more to the plate on wild pitches.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Blazers created a spark at the plate after Sheehan was replaced on the mound. Senior Austin Triplett got things going with a single into left field before Jess Davis drew a walk to set up Schultz’s RBI double, but UAB’s run ended there.
After junior Brady Greene took care of Notre Dame in the top of the ninth, the Blazer set up their potential walk-off scenario. Senior Zack Davis walked, and Ian Ladner reached on a fly ball in shallow right field to start. Both moved into scoring position shortly after off junior Caleb Floyd’s sac bunt. Redshirt junior Thomas Johns then walked to occupy the base path, but Notre Dame ended the rally there for the 4-2 win.
UAB and Notre Dame will be back in action for game two of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday 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-
