BIRMINGHAM, AL— The UAB Blazers (30-23/15-14) scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and defeat Old Dominion (26-27/12-17) 6-3 Saturday afternoon at the Young Memorial Field. ODU freshman Zach Rutherford led with three hits and fellow freshman Justin Hayes had two hits with an RBI.
Trailing 3-2, ODU tied the game in the eighth when Justin Hayes singled home Mike Perez with two outs.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Blazers loaded the bases where designated hitter/relief pitcher Adam Lau’s sacrifice fly RBI brought home Griffin Gum from third for a 4-3 UAB lead. Tyler Mims
then doubled home Jeff Schalk and Esteban Tresgallo for the 6-3 lead.
ODU took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on back to back RBI hits from Josh Eldridge who plated Zach Rutherford and Mike Perez who brought home Taylor Ostrich. The Monarchs loaded the bases in the fifth, but hit into a double play and left two on base in the sixth inning. In all, ODU left 11 runners stranded.
Griffin Gum and Esteban Tresgallo led the Blazers with three hits each. Tresgallo, the C-USA and National Player of the Week belted a two-run homer in the sixth to give UAB a 3-2 lead. It was his 11th homer of the season second in as many games against the Monarchs.
The third and final game of the season is Saturday at 2 p.m.(ET). A win coupled with a loss by Charlotte, Marshall and Western Kentucky would put the Monarchs in next week’s C-USA tournament. Listen to Sunday’s contest live with Ted Alexander on STAR1310 AM.
ODU 000 200 010=3-7-0
UAB 000 012 03x=6-9-1
ODU: Bainbridge, Tomchick (7) and Perez
UAB: Luna, Munger(5), Lau(8) and Tresgallo
WP: Lau(1-20 LP: Tomchick (3-6)
HR: Tresgallo (11)