BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alabama A&M (1-8, 0-0 SWAC) could not withstand an offensive barrage by Alabama-Birmingham (8-3, 0-0 C-USA) and dropped a 12-1 decision in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Sunday, March 6.
In the first inning the Blazers would deliver five runs off four hits including a homerun from John Marc Mullins and a two-RBI singled from Darryl Buggs for a 5-0 lead. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the third inning as UAB would then increase their lead as Henry Hunter homered to center field for a 6-0 advantage.
The Blazers would then take their biggest lead of the afternoon in the fourth inning with four runs off three hits that consisted of two RBIs from Caleb Floyd. Those brought home Christian Hall and Josh Sears for a 10-0 lead. UAB then capitalized in the bottom of the fifth as they added another run as Sears reached on a fielding error and brought home Buggs.
The Bulldogs would get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth as junior outfielder
Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.) homered to center to cut it to 10 before the Blazers would respond in the home half of the inning with a final run to close out the 12-1 victory in seven innings.
Mullins led UAB with a 3-of-4 day, two RBIs, a homerun and two runs scored while Buggs went 1-of-2 with a pair of RBIs and a run. Floyd went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to round out the top offensive performers and Brady Walton started and threw seven innings, striking out two and only allowing one earned run to move to 2-0.
Tribett led the Bulldogs with a 1-of-2 day with an RBI, a homerun and a run. Freshman pitcher
Jason Marono (Miami, Fla.) threw three innings allowing two earned runs while sophomore pitcher
Khari Caver (Riverdale, Ga.) struck out one and suffered the loss to move to 0-3.
The Bulldogs are back in action from March 11-13 for a three game series against Eastern Illinois. First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Toyota Field in Huntsville, Alabama, home of the Los Angeles Angels AA affiliate Rocket City Trash Pandas. The final two games will be held on campus with start times of 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday.
