Troy Falls in Final At-Bat, 4-3

Tuesday, April 26

Birmingham, AL

6:30 pm

Troy University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

4/26/2011 9:39:32 PM | Baseball

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE

BIRMINGHAM – UAB battled back to tie late in the game, then defeated No. 22 Troy 4-3 in the final at-bat on Tuesday at Young Memorial Field.

UAB tied the game at three on a two-run home run by Andrew Manning with one out in the eighth to chase Troy starter Shane McCain. McCain posted the longest outing of his career with seven-plus innings against the Blazers on Tuesday. The sophomore struck out three and walked one en route to a no decision.

The Trojans (30-11) turned to closer Tyson Workman, who got a ground out then a caught stealing at home to escape the inning. After the Trojans were unable to generate offense in the top half, the stage was set for the Blazers in the bottom of the night.

After Workman struck out Keith Depew for the first out, he surrendered a single to Jamaal Austin. Workman then hit Patrick Palmeiro to advance the winning run to second, and John Frost singled up the middle to score Austin from second and give UAB a walk-off win.

Workman was charged with the loss to drop to 2-2 this season. He also drew two walks at the plate.

The story for the Trojans was runners left on base. In total, Troy stranded six base runners for the game.

For the third time in four innings, Troy led off the fourth with a double, this time from catcher Todd McRae. The first two times, the Trojans failed to produce a run, but the third time was the charm as McRae crossed the plate after a passed ball by UAB starter David Hayes.

The Trojans made it 3-0 one pitch later as Drew Prichard crushed his third home run of the season to right field. The blast also plated Workman, who had walked in front of the junior.

UAB got a run back on a RBI single by Austin in the bottom half of the fourth to close the Trojans lead to 3-1. The centerfielder drove home lead-off hitter Nick Crawford who had been hit by a pitch and then sacrificed to second base.

Tyler Hannah led off the fifth inning with a double to mark the fourth inning the Trojans had recorded a lead-off hit.

UAB reliever Mark McKinley picked up the win to improve to 3-1. Austin was the only Blazer with two hits.

Hannah and McRae both had a pair of hits for Troy.

The Trojans are in action next on Friday when they begin a three-game set with Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton.