Tech drops series-opener to UAB, 3-0

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech bats were stymied on Friday evening, as UAB starting pitcher Tanner Graham (1-2) went 8.1 innings allowing just four hits and no runs, en route to a 3-0 Blazer victory at Regions Field.

Tech (17-7, 3-1 C-USA) saw starting pitcher Matt Miller (3-1) pitch into the sixth inning for the fifth time this season, but the right-hander was not the beneficiary of run support, in Tech’s second time being shutout this season.

Senior shortstop Dalton Skelton went 1-for-4, while extending his team-high hitting streak to 16 games.

Miller walked the very first hitter of the game in Tyler Tolbert, and then saw the Blazer leadoff man steal second third, and come home to score on an RBI-single from Carter Pharis.

Tech mustered a pair of baserunners in both the second and third innings, but left them stranded. For the evening, the Bulldogs left eight men on base, while UAB (10-10, 3-1 C-USA) stranded nine.

Miller allowed an unearned run in the fourth, and made it through the following two innings unscathed, before begin lifted with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Left-hander Quinton Logan allowed a run on a wild pitch, but got a big swinging strikeout of Colton Schultz to escape the jam.

Reliever Ben Stiglets entered in the eighth for the Dogs, and issued a trio of HBP’s, but effectively escaped the bases-loaded jam with no damage done.

Tech mounted its first credible threat off Graham in the top of the ninth, after a Tanner Huddleston single and a Mason Mallard walk, put two on with just one out. Graham was lifted for left-hander Ty Harris, who faced Tech pinch-hitter Steele Netterville. The freshman worked an impressive at-bat, working back from down 0-2, and drawing a 3-2 walk, loading the bases.

However, UAB went to right-hander Carson Jones, who struck out the final two batters of the game, leaving the bases loaded and ending the contest with his second save of the season.

The two teams return to action tomorrow afternoon, with a first pitch set for 2 p.m. from Regions Field. Tech is slated to throw left-hander Logan Robbins (4-0), while UAB will counter with lefty Ryan Ruggles.