By SCOTT D. LONGSTREET

sdl018@latech.edu

 

A pitching duel, a slugfest and a complete-game pitching performance highlighted a weekend series that saw the Bulldogs complete a sweep of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Tech (15-12) now has its longest winning streak since 2004, posting victories of 3-1, 11-8, and 6-2 over the Blazers (13-16) to extend the streak to four games.

Game one of the UAB series saw only four runs and 13 hits between the two teams. Tech pitcher Luke Burnett, a freshman, pitched six and 2/3 innings while allowing seven hits and only one unearned run with four strikeouts to earn his third win of the year. He is second in the WAC in earned run average at 1.77.

Junior Andrew Alsup pitched the last two and 1/3 innings of the night, allowing only one hit and no runs to earn his third save on the season.

After falling behind with an unearned run from the Blazers in the fourth, Tech’s offense responded with its only run-scoring inning in the fifth. With two runners already on base, sophomore Adam Cobb had an infield single that scored senior Joey McCarthy. Freshman Jericho Jones then connected with a base hit into the outfield to score Cobb and senior Mims Boyce, giving Tech a 3-1 lead.

The most influential play of the game was an interference call in the top of the fourth inning, when Ryan Metcalf of UAB was called out for being out of the baseline on his way to first base. The controversial call slowed what may have been a bigger inning than it was for the Blazers.

“It was the biggest play of the game,” Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux said. “It ended their big inning and gave us momentum.”

UAB put runners on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but were unable to plate runs.

Cobb led Tech’s offense with two hits, with Jones, McCarthy and Boyce contributing one hit each.

Game, two of the series was far from a pitchers duel as both teams combined for 19 runs and 33 hits.

Jones picked up the win atop the mound for Tech, becoming the first Bulldog pitcher in 17 years to start 5-0. Mike Martin was the last in 1989.

Jones pitched five and 1/3 innings while giving up six runs on 11 hits to earn the win. Senior Steve Alverson pitched the last three and 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no runs to earn his first save of the year.

“If there is a positive to take away from this game, then it was Steve [Alverson] getting back on track,” Simoneaux said. “We are going to need him down the stretch.”

After falling behind in the top of the second inning 3-0, Tech’s bats came alive to keep the Bulldogs in the game.

Although Jones struggled on the mound, he was hot from the plate as he helped himself on offense by hitting a grand slam in the second inning. It was the first grand slam by a Bulldog since 2003 when then freshman Ben Tabor hit one against Fresno State.

“I don’t like having [Jericho] Jones hitting when he pitches because it is hard on his legs,” Simoneaux said. “After he hit the homerun, I think it gave him enough of a lift to get into the fifth inning.”

The grand slam was part of a seven-run second inning that saw Tech grab a lead and hang on as UAB rallied. The Blazers plated five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to make the score 9-8.

Tech freshman Chris Kersten and senior Ryan Hamilton added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the scoring.

Hamilton led Tech’s WAC leading offensive attack with a 4-5 performance with two runs and one RBI. Freshman Kevin Winn had three hits in four at bats while replacing the injured senior Amos Ramon. Jones and sophomore Brian Rike each added two hits.

Six other players added a hit apiece.

Jones leads the team in batting average at .429, RBIs with 22 and is tied for the team lead in home runs with 5 along with Ben Tabor.

Game three saw Tech’s first complete game of the season, as senior Matt Lacy allowed five hits and two earned runs in nine innings while striking out seven. It was his third win of the season and Tech’s first complete game since April 16, 2005, when Clayton Meyer did so against Fresno State.

Lacy’s only runs allowed came late in the eighth inning, when UAB’s George Gutierrez hit a two-run homer to centerfield. Lacy was able to finish off the game after that, shutting down UAB 1-2-3 ninth. Allowing two bases on ball in the game, he also leads the WAC in walks per nine innings at 1.28.

Tech’s defense also played a part in preserving the win for Lacy. The Bulldogs turned double plays in the third, sixth and seventh, with Hamilton turning an unassisted double play  at second base to end the sixth.

Rike led Tech at the plate with two hits and three RBIs. Ramon added two hits as well and two runs. Cobb and Hamilton each added one hit along with junior Brandon Hudson, freshman Patrick Thomas and sophomore Albie Goulder.

“We had timely hits and we pitched well this weekend.” Simoneaux said, “We need more of that for the stretch run.”

After a pair of weekday games, Tech baseball resumes conference action this weekend with a three game series against the University of Nevada beginning tomorrow at J.C. Love Field.