Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Just as in games one and two, it was a late inning surge that decided the final game of the three-game series between the UAB Blazers and Central Michigan Chippewas at Young Memorial Field on Sunday as CMU used a four-run seventh inning to come from behind and sneak away with a 5-3 victory. The Blazers are now 1-2 on the year, while Central Michigan is 2-1 after opening weekend.

UAB senior first baseman Ryne Lovdahl scored two runs on two hits and two walks, however it was CMU outfielder Eric Cannon who proved to be too much as he went 4-for-5 at the plate, driving in two runs.

UAB held a lead for most of the game due in part to some outstanding defensive plays, including two by sophomore outfielder Brint Hardy who made a run-saving sliding catch in the third and then covered a lot of territory to haul in a foul ball in the seventh.

Freshman left-hander Shay Crawford made his first career start on Sunday, throwing 86 pitches in 4.0 innings. Crawford recorded three strikeouts and allowed just one earned run in his collegiate debut.

Junior right-hander Ben Styes (0-1) was tabbed with the loss after throwing 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs. Central Michigan's Devan Kline (1-0) gave the Chippewas two solid innings to earn the win, while Eric Lawrence (1) earned the save.

Senior catcher Danny Sawyer was 2-for-4 on the day with one run scored while recording seven put outs behind the plate. Junior infielder Tyler Rollin entered the game in the ninth as a pinch hitter and legged out a single to the shortstop to get a late UAB charge started.

Down 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, Rollin's single got things started but then was put out on the first Central Michigan double play of the weekend. With two outs, Hardy stepped in and legged out an infield single and then junior designated hitter Phil Bell found a hole on the right side on an 0-2 pitch as he singled to give the Blazers two-on with two-out.

Up came Lovdahl who showed great patience in drawing a walk on a 2-3 count to load the bases with two outs. It was then Sawyer's turn to see if he could manufacture the game-tying run, however a sharply hit ball down the third base line was fielded cleanly and Bell was put out at third to end the game.

UAB gave up one run in the first as CMU first baseman Ben Humphrey singled and then made it to third by way of a balk and a wild pitch before scoring on a Bryan Mitzel single.

The Blazers then came back to take the lead in the second when Lovdahl drew a walk and then Sawyer doubled to left center to put them both in scoring position when senior outfielder J.R. Bond came up to bat and reached on a fielder's choice that ultimately scored Lovdahl from third after an error on CMU.

Looking to take its first lead of the game, UAB's freshman shortstop Jonathan Merritt stepped in and drove a 2-2 pitch for a single to score Sawyer and nearly score Bond who was thrown out at the plate by Cannon.

After adding one more in the third, UAB led 3-1 entering the seventh but CMU would load the bases and a Dale Cornstubble triple drove in three runs to put the Chippwas on top, 5-3, where they remained for the rest of the ball game.

The Blazers come away from their opening weekend with one victory and will next be in action on Tuesday when they travel to play Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. on Tuesday before heading to Arizona State for a three-game series next weekend.