BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A large contingent of faithful UAB fans toughed the cold weather on Friday to watch the UAB baseball team come-from-behind to earn a 5-4 victory against Central Michigan on a Billy Lichtner pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 11th at Young Memorial Field. Senior outfielder J.R. Bond gave the Blazers a 2-for-3 performance with three runs scored including the game-winner. The Blazers are 1-0 on the year while Central Michigan is 0-1.

Sophomore right-hander James Oliver (1-0) earned the victory after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings. Despite Oliver earning the win, junior right-hander Brandon Wallace had an incredibly impressive first outing with the Blazers as he backed up his opening day start, pitching 6.0 innings (85 pitches) and allowing just two earned runs.

Senior outfielder Steven Turner went 2-for-5 on the day with one stolen base that came in the first inning when he got on base by legging out a well placed bunt down the first base side. Senior catcher Danny Sawyer was 2-for-5 as was sophomore third baseman Allen Aubin with each scoring one run.

The Chippewas got their best performance of the day on the mound as opening day starter Josh Collmenter struck out an impressive 10 of the 25 batters he faced. Collmenter put in 6.0 innings of work on the day in which he gave up just two earned runs to put himself in position for the win when he left the game holding a 4-2 lead.

Ben Humphrey highlighted Central Michigan's offensive performance by going 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Central Michigan got on the board first in the ball game as infielder James Teas reach on an error by Aubin and then outfielder Tyler Stovall drove a single up the middle to put runners at first and second with no outs. After Wallace earned his only strikeout of the day, CMU catcher Dale Cornstubble singled to drive in Teas from second. UAB was able to hold off the Chippewas charge, getting out of the inning trailing just 1-0.

After a pair of scoreless innings, it was UAB's turn to get its offense going. Bond began the surge by driving a 1-0 pitch to right field for a double and then Aubin blasted a triple to drive in Bond and even the game at 1-1.

Freshman shortstop Jonathan Merritt got on base via a walk, but then was picked off by Collmenter, leaving Aubin at third with two outs. In stepped junior second baseman Brett Hall who gave the Blazers their first lead of the season by singling to drive in Aubin. The Chippewas were able to get out of the inning with UAB leading by just one, 2-1.

Central Michigan was quick to respond to UAB's fifth inning burst as the Chippewas found themselves with runners on second and third to start the inning after a walk and then a double by Humphrey. Outfielder Bryan Mitzel then evened the game at 2-2 when he grounded out to short to drive in one run. Central Michigan then broke the tie when a Merritt error allowed Humphrey to score to give it a 3-2 lead.

The Chippewas picked up an insurance run in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead which is where the score stood heading into the bottom of the ninth.

In the ninth, UAB showed it still had plenty of fight left as Sawyer stepped in against left-handed closer James Ricchio and pelted a double to left-center. With a fellow senior already on base, Bond came to the plate and drew a walk and then Aubin singled to load the bases.

With the bases loaded, senior outfielder Levi Patmon got the nod to step in and pinch-hit for Merritt and he did not disappoint, ripping a single into the outfield, driving in both Sawyer and Bond to even the game at 4-4. In the midst of Patmon's multi-RBI single, the play took an interesting turn when Aubin had apparently left second base after reaching the bag on Patmon's single having thought the game-winning run had been scored. CMU appealed the play and Aubin was ruled out by way of a 7-2 putout, leaving just Patmon on base, ending the Blazers rally.

On to extra innings and after holding off a Chippewas rally in the 10th, UAB looked to one of its senior leaders again in Bond who drove a 1-2 pitch to right center for a single and then stole second to give the Blazers a runner in scoring position with no outs. In stepped Aubin who reached on a fielder's choice and also managed to get Bond over to third.

With runners on the corners and nobody out, junior Billy Lichtner came in to pinch-hit for Patmon and did not disappoint, driving a single to left which drove in Bond as the game-winning run to give the Blazers the 5-4 opening day triumph.

The two teams will play game two of the three game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.