Baseball posts double digit hits in battle with UAB

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – In their first away game of the year the Bulldog Baseball team battled back and even held a lead before falling 9-6 to the University of Alabama-Birmingham at Regions field Wednesday night.

A&M collected 12 hits in the game for only the second time this season with double digit connections. Designated hitter Austin Hulsey continued his hot hitting streak which stands at six going 2 for 5 with a run and a run batted in.

After a scoreless first inning, UAB built an early 2-0 lead, but the Bulldogs jumped on the scoreboard in the third. AAMU opened the inning when shortstop Julio Nunez reached on a single which allowed Hulsey to advance him home on a double to right field. First basemen Allen Smith singled to right center, scoring Hulsey, to tie the game at two.

In the top half of the fourth, third basemen Jordan Friend singled to center field then advanced to second base. The catcher, Dustin Dhanani, then reached on an error by the pitcher, moving Friend to third base. Keeping the game close outfielder Brandyn Crutcher connected on a sacrifice fly to center field for an RBI scoring Friend. The current SWAC player of the Week, Nunez, replicated Crutcher with his on sacrifice fly to right field to score Dhanani and give A&M a 4-2 advantage.

The fifth inning saw Dhanani post his RBI on a single, then the sixth saw outfielder Patrick Dodson post his second hit of the contest with a single through the right side of the field that allowed Crutcher to plate the final run of the game for the visitors.

With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, the home team would push ahead for good. UAB's Jeff Schalk hit an RBI single to put the squad ahead, 7-6. Ivan De Jesus replicated Schalk's efforts with an RBI single. Peterson then plated the final run, scoring Schalk off of a fielder's choice.

Smith led AAMU's efforts going 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Patrick Dobson went 2 for 5 with an RBI. Eight Bulldogs finished with a hit in the game.

Benjamin Ryder took the loss for A&M, giving up four hits and three runs - one earned - in two innings of work.

The Maroon and White baseball team will be back in action at Bulldog Field on Friday afternoon when it opens its series against South Dakota State. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

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