Blazers blank Tigers, 5-0, to win CUSA Tourney

UAB advances to second NCAA tourney in school history with victory against Memphis

When UAB topped Tulane on Friday to win its pod, the seventh-seeded Blazers became the lowest seed to ever advance to the CUSA Tournament game.

Today, sixth-year coach Brian Shoop and company made more history as they became the lowest seed to ever win the event.

Ryan Nance and Michael Busby combined on a six-hit, 5-0, shutout of No. 5 seed Memphis to earn the Blazers' second NCAA berth in program history.

Memphis (31-28), which saw its season come to an end after winning 14 of its last 19, had its opportunities to establish control early as Chase Joiner held UAB without a hit through three.

Adam McClain and Eli Hynes produced back-to-back singles with two outs in the first, but were stranded when Nance struck out Derrick Thomas.

With one down in the third, Ethan Gross doubled and Jacob Wilson walked. They advanced into scoring position on Adam McClain's groundout and UAB elected to intentionally walk Eli Hynes to load the bases. The decision was effective as Derrick Thomas flew out to right for out three.

After Ivan De Jesus led off the fourth with the Blazers' first hit, John Frost followed with a single. However, Joiner recorded the force out at third on Palmeiro's sac bunt attempt before getting Ryan Ussery to ground into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

The game remained scoreless through six, but the Blazers broke the ice with a three-spot in the seventh.

Ryan Ussery drew a leadoff walk and UAB had runners on the corners with no outs after a single to right by catcher Harry Clark. Ussery crossed the plate after a failed pickoff attempt by Joiner to tally the game's first run. Then, with one out Jeff Schalk connected on a two-run jack to make it 3-0.

The Blazers tacked on two more in the eighth via two-out singles by DePew and Schalk off Memphis reliever Jonathan Van Eaton.

Ryan Nance, who allowed five hits over 6.1 innings, improved to 4-3 with the win.

Michael Busby surrendered just one hit over 2.2 innings of relief to earn his first save of the season.

Chase Joiner took the loss for the Tigers after giving up three runs--all earned--on seven hits in 6.1 innings and dropped to 4-5.

Jeff Schalk went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead UAB at the plate. John Frost and Tanner Bryant also had two hits for the Blazers, who outhit the Tigers, 10-6.

Eli Hynes, who was 2-for-3, was the only Memphis player to manage more than one hit.

The Blazers will find out their seeding and where they will be headed for their first regional since 1991 when the brackets are unveiled at Noon on Monday.

By Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum
CUSA-Fans.com Staff Writer