BlazerSportsReport.com - Blazers Take Tulane, 4-3

April 14, 2012

Jack Williams
BlazerSportsReport.com Publisher

Ben Bullard held Tulane to six hits and three runs in six innings and the Blazer bullpen shut out the Green Wave the final three innings as UAB picked up a 4-3 win at Young Memorial Field. "It was a great job to come out and grind one out against a great team," said UAB coach Brian Shoop.

Tulane had their opportunities but just couldn't cash in. The Green Wave loaded the bases with two out in the first and ninth innings - but failed to produce a run in either situation.

"We were in good shape in the ninth," Shoop said. "We had the match-ups we wanted."

Ryan Ussery led off the second inning with a home run. Tulane pitcher David Napoli then walked Tyler Mims, Patrick Palmeiro and Jacob German after an out Ivan De Jesus singled in two runs to put the Blazers up 3-0 after two.

Tulane answered quickly Jeremy Schaffer drew a two out walk he was driven in on a Sean Potkay double followed by a Frank Florio home run over the right field wall, tying the game at 3-3 in the third.

Mims led off the sixth with a walk and scored the winning run on another De Jesus single.

The Blazers loaded the bases in the eighth on singles by German and Keith DePew and De Jesus reached when he was hit by a pitch. But they were unable to put a ball in play on the second out and the inning ended with a fly ball to right field. "We were there with one out and John [Frost] hits a missile right to him [right fielder].

Bullard picked up the win for UAB, his record improved to 3-4, Napoli was tagged with the loss dropping his record to 5-2.

UAB improved to 21-15 overall and 4-7 in C-USA. "We played a regional team at ECU and had a chance to win two of three," Shoop said. We played a for sure regional team at UCF and had a chance to win two of three. This [Tulane] is a regional team and we have a chance going into Sunday to win two of three. This is a great league; it's a very competitive baseball league.

The two teams play the rubber game of the series at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

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