NORFOLK, VA-- The UAB Blazers (16-4/4-1 C-USA) behind the hitting of Jeff Schalk and Evan Peterson, who each knocked in two runs defeated Old Dominion (11-8/1-4 C-USA) Saturday afternoon, 8-6 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth inning, ODU rallied on an RBI single by Josh Eldridge which brought home senior shortstop Tyler Urps to tie the game at 2-2. Later in the inning, ODU then took a 3-2 lead when designated hitter Ben Slaton walked with the bases loaded to bring home freshman outfielder Nick Walker.
UAB grabbed the lead back in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer by firstbaseman Jeff Schalk with Ryan Prinzing aboard for a 4-3 Blazer lead. For Schalk, it was second of the season.
The Monarchs tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Connor Myers led off with a walk and with one out Tyler Urps walked. Nick Walker then singled to centerfield to bring home Myers, tying the score at 4-4.
UAB added a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Prinzing for a 5-4 lead, then scored three more runs in the top of the ninth lead by a two-run double from Evan Peterson.
In the bottom of the ninth ODU’s Ben Slaton singled and came home on an RBI double by Jordan Negrini to make it 8-5. Pinch hitter Josiah Burney doubled down the leftfield line to bring home Negrini for an 8-6 score, but UAB reliever Adam Lau got the final out to get out of the jam.
Josh Eldridge led the Monarchs with three hits on the day, followed by Nick Walker and firstbaseman Taylor Ostrich with two hits each. ODU had 13 total hits but left 12 runners on base.
ODU starter Tommy Alexander fanned five batters in five innings, while reliever Conner Overton fanned five batters in 2.2 innings of work.
The third and final game of the series is Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
UAB 020 002 103=8-14-0
ODU 010 021 002=6-13-0
UAB: Luna, Lowery(5), Eller(7),Lee(9), Lau(9) and Williams
ODU: Alexander, S.Sinnen(6), Gero(6),Overton(7) and Perez
HR: UAB-Schalk(2)
WP: Lowery(2-0) LP: Gero(2-2), Save:Lau(3)