Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – Will King's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th gave the Colonels a 5-4 win over Alabama-Birmingham on opening day of the 2023 season.
 
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Conner Davis drew a walk.  Logan Thomason and Matthew Corlew both walked to load the bases for King.  The junior catcher lifted the first pitch he saw into center field, allowing Davis to score from third to end the game.
 
EKU (1-0) came back from a 4-1 deficit after the first four innings.  With two outs and two on in the bottom of the fifth, Thomason singled up the middle to score Jalen Jones.
 
With two outs and two on in the bottom of the sixth, Jones tied the game with a 2-run triple down the right field line.  Charlie Ludwick and King scored on the play.  Jones finished the day 4-for-5 with a run and two driven in.
 
UAB had the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, but Ludwick saved a couple of runs with a diving stab of a ground ball to his right at first.
 
Six EKU relievers combined to pitch seven and two-thirds scoreless innings.  Bryce Travis didn't allow a hit in two and one-third innings.  Brock Blanton pitched two-thirds of an inning.  Luke Reed struck out five, walked one and allowed one hit in three and two-thirds innings of work.  Quinton Hall pitched one-third of an inning.  Anthony Vargas picked up the win after getting the final out in the top of the 11th.
 
Miguel Larreal had two hits and scored a run in his debut as a Colonel.  Thomason went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
 
John Marc Mullins went 2-for-3 with three walks and a run in the lead-off spot for the Blazers.
 
The Colonels will play a doubleheader against host South Alabama on Saturday starting at 4 p.m. ET.