May 11, 2008

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - Ryan Keedy hit two doubles to tie the UAB school record for single-season doubles (24) and added a home run to combine for six RBI and lead UAB to a 14-3 seven-inning victory over UCF at Jay Bergman Field Sunday afternoon. Right fielder Brint Hardy was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a home run in the victory.

Keedy's two doubles Sunday tie him with Brian Jersey and B.J. Huff for the single-season doubles record.

"It's exciting, we have four games left so hopefully I can get at least one more but it's exciting and has been a lot of fun," Keedy said of chasing the record. "I think we had a 100 percent turnaround from yesterday. After dropping the tough one Friday night, to come out here and get a big win like we did today is huge. We might have played our way into the conference tournament today, but we'll see."

UAB improves to 21-31 (5-16 C-USA) with the win, while UCF is now 31-22 (8-16 C-USA).

Working with plenty of run support, Mitch Kloskowski (6-5) earned the win on the mound after throwing his fourth career complete game in which he allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out three.

Mitch Houck (4-3) got the loss on the mound for UCF after giving up six runs in the first 1.2 innings.

Third baseman Luke Stewart was 2-for-4 and hit his 13th home run of the season. Second baseman Nick Crawford was 1-for-2 with two walks, a hit by pitch and three runs scored. Center fielder Cody McMurry also had three runs scored, while going 1-for-4 at the plate.

Designated hitter Billy Lichtner was 1-for-1 with three walks and a run scored.

UCF was paced offensively by designated hitter Chris Duffy who was 1-for-2 with a home run.

Keedy used his 23rd double of the season to score Crawford in the top of the first to give UAB a 1-0 lead and then, with the bases loaded in the second, Keedy hit his school record 24th double to right-center field to score all three preceding runners and take a 4-0 lead and jump-start a seven-run inning.

McMurry scored Keedy with a single to center field and then McMurry was brought home when Stewart launched a two-run home run that cleared the scoreboard in right-center field to extend the Blazer lead to 7-0. Hardy scored the final run of the inning nearly single-handedly as he singled to reach and then stole second and third before coming home on a wild pitch.

Duffy's home run led off the bottom of the third and then second baseman Dwayne Bailey followed with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by center fielder Tyson Auer to make it an 8-2 Blazer lead.

The Blazers regained their eight-run lead with two runs in the top of the fourth thanks to Hardy scoring McMurry with an RBI-single and then Stewart scored on a double play ground out by left fielder Austin Taylor after just missing his second home run of the day with a double off the right field wall to get on base.

In the fifth, Keedy continued to have a day, crushing a two-run home run to straight-away center field to give UAB a 12-2 advantage. Later in the inning, Hardy added a two-run home run to take a 14-2 lead.

UCF scored one run in the sixth to round out the scoring in the 14-3 UAB victory.

The Blazers will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to play their final non-conference game of the season at Troy at 6:00 p.m.