NORFOLK, Va. – Chase Mallard pitched 7.1 innings, giving up just three hits and two runs as UAB defeated Old Dominion University baseball 4-2 Friday night at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
With the win, UAB improved to 15-5 and 3-1 in Conference USA play, while ODU is now 11-7 overall and 1-3 in league play.
UAB manufactured a run in the first inning, as Chase Davis led off the game with a double and moved to third on a ground out while scoring on a ground out by Ryan Prinzing.
The Blazers tacked on three more in the second. Davis hit into a bases loaded fielder’s choice to score a run. Ivan De Jesus hit an RBI single while Griffin Gum brought in the fourth run of the game with an RBI single.
Taylor Ostrich delivered ODU’s first hit of the game in the fourth inning and the Monarchs got on the board in the fifth.
Jordan Negrini led off the fifth with a single while Mike Perez walked to put runners on first and second. Tyler Urps laid down a sacrifice bunt and Connor Myers followed with a run scoring single to right center to make the score 4-1. Josh Eldridge followed with a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2 but Mallard got a pop up to end the inning.
Perez singled in the ninth inning for ODU Cory Eller got the final two outs of the game to preserve UAB’s 4-2 win.
Gum had three hits to lead UAB while De Jesus and Evan Peterson had two hits apiece.
Myers, Negrini, Perez and Ostrich had base hits for the Monarchs.
The two teams will play again tomorrow at 3 p.m.