University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
UAB
Sandlin Notches Second-Straight Shutout; Blanks UAB 6-0
5/4/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nick Sandlin threw his second-straight, complete-game shutout to lead No. 13 Southern Miss to a 6-0 Conference USA series-opening victory over UAB at Young Memorial Field Friday night.
The Golden Eagles (33-12 overall, 17-4 C-USA) won its 17th league series-opening game over their last 18 dating back to 2016, as they continue to hold own to first place in the C-USA standings.
Sandlin (7-0) gave up six hits to go along with two walks and a hit by pitch, while fanning nine as the junior right-hander has not allowed an earned run over his last 32 innings.
Luke Reynolds gave the Golden Eagles the only runs they needed with a two-run homer in the first, scoring Gabe Montenegro who led off the game with a single. It was Reynolds' team-high tying 11th roundtripper of the campaign.
Mason Irby, who notched two of the Golden Eagles nine hits, added a solo run in the third. After back-to-back single from him and LeeMarcus Boyd, who also tallied two singles, the senior from Meridian scored on an errant throw at third on a failed pickoff to make the score 3-0.
The Golden Eagles added another solo run in the sixth on a wild pitch and then plated two more in the ninth on a stolen base of third by Fred Franklin, which was thrown wild that allowed him to score, and a RBI single by Bryant Bowen.
UAB starter Tanner Graham allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss and fall to 3-6.
The Blazers fell to 19-24 overall and 11-11 in C-USA play this season.
The second game of the series, set for Saturday, will now take place at 12 noon as expected rain is expected later in the afternoon.
