Georgia Baseball: Bulldogs Battle Cold To Beat UAB

Photo Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

A career high 5.1 scoreless innings by Patrick Boling led to the Bulldogs to a 6-2 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers on a cold, blustery Saturday in front of a season-high Foley Field crowd of 2,095.

The Bulldogs (4-6) struck first in the third inning thanks to consecutive sacrifice flies by Kyle Farmer and Hunter Cole. Cody Sheedy plated the first run after reaching on a single up the middle. Nelson Ward was walked and then driven in by Cole.

Georgia added some insurance to their lead in the fifth inning. Ward, who singled, was knocked in by Farmer with his 57th career double and third of the series. After a walk to Cole and a fielder’s choice that allowed Daniel Nichols to reach safely, Brett DeLoach hit a towering shot that turned into a bases-clearing triple, Georgia’s fourth in two games. The Bulldogs led 6-0 after five frames.

“It’s good to win a series, and we got an excellent start from Patrick Boling, that’s exactly what we needed from him and a good job after he pitched some in relief earlier this week,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “We did leave some runs out there, however Nelson Ward was good in the leadoff spot again and our seniors Kyle Farmer and Brett DeLoach came through in some RBI situations.”

The Blazers (4-6) tallied a pair of runs in the eighth off Bryan Benzor. Tanner Bryant and Chase Davis both singled early in the inning. Bryant plated the first run off of an RBI single by Ryan Prinzing. Davis later scored on a fielder’s choice by Ivan De Jesus. UAB trailed 6-2 after eight.

UAB starter James Naile (2-1) left the game after 4.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on four hits with four walks and three strike outs. Blazer relief featured Turner Lee and Alex Luna. Naile received the loss.

Boling (1-2) earned his first win of the season Saturday. He held UAB scoreless through 5.1 innings, only giving up two hits with four strikeouts. Benzor came in for Boling in relief and got out of a bases loaded jam after walking two straight batters to keep the Blazers off of the scoreboard in the sixth. Benzor tossed 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a strikeout. Sophomore Jarrett Brown entered in the ninth and retired UAB in order to earn the Bulldogs their fourth win of the season.

The Bulldogs will wrap up the series Sunday at 2 p.m.

Follow Danny Bishop on Twitter @DBishop101