March 26, 2008

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB baseball team had it all working Wednesday night at Young Memorial Field as the Blazers beat Alabama A&M, 7-2. Four UAB pitchers combined to strikeout 13 hitters, while first baseman Ryan Keedy and third baseman Luke Stewart each hit their second home runs of the season.

UAB improves to 8-13 with its second straight win, while Alabama A&M continues its struggles, falling to 3-19.

Dustin Colburn (1-1) got the win on the mound for the Blazers after pitching 4.0 innings in which he struck out five and didn't issue a walk.

"I was happy to get back out there and get another start - it's been a little while since I've had a chance to start so it felt good to be out there," Colburn said. "I had my fastball working today and my breaking ball was off at first but I started gripping it tighter and started throwing more strikes."

A.J. Campbell (0-1) got the loss for Alabama A&M after laboring for 6.0 innings. The right-hander threw 106 pitches and gave up three runs on six hits.

Keedy stretched his current career-long hit streak to 15 games by going 2-for-4 with two RBI to help UAB win what he called another step in the right direction.

"Anytime you can come out and beat Troy and then follow that up with another win tonight is a positive sign," Keedy said following his 15th multiple hit game of the season. "The good thing this is that our bats are starting to come alive and our pitching keeps improving so those are both positive things as we move forward."

Stewart finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and two walks, while outfielder Cody McMurry was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

Second baseman Nick Crawford also had multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Outfielder Phil Bell extended his hit streak to 12 games by going 1-for-5.

Alabama A&M was led by catcher Demarcus Stewart who went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Alabama A&M took an early 1-0 lead in the first when designated hitter Alton Ellison hit an RBI-single through the right side of the infield to score second baseman Manny Siaca.

The Bulldogs would extend their lead to 2-0 in the second before UAB came around in the bottom half of the inning and got a run on the board when shortstop Jonathan Merritt was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in McMurry and cut the AAMU lead to 2-1.

UAB took the lead, 3-2, in the third when Stewart drove his second home run of the season over the right field wall, which also scored Keedy who had walked earlier in the inning.

After three scoreless innings, UAB extended its lead to 4-2 in the seventh when outfielder Brint Hardy hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score McMurry.

In the eighth, UAB put the game out of reach, as a two-run blast to right field by Keedy made it 6-2 and then Stewart singled home McMurry to bring the count to 7-2.

The Blazers will resume Conference USA play this weekend when they host Tulane at Young Memorial Field beginning Friday at 7:00 p.m.