Ryan Nance and Michael Busby combined for a shutout this afternoon in the C-USA championship game to earn UAB its first NCAA tournament berth in 21 years. A two-run home run by freshman Jeff Schalk was the big blow in the Blazers’ 5-0 victory.
Tiger starter Chase Joiner kept UAB off the scoreboard for six innings. But in the seventh, his errant throw on a pickoff attempt at third base allowed Ryan Ussery to score the game’s first run. Schalk followed shortly with a drive that cleared the rightfield wall.
Memphis loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, but with the tying run at first, both Ethan Gross and C-USA Player of the Year Jacob Wilson struck out.
The 7th-seeded Blazers and 5th-seeded Tigers were each playing in the C-USA championship for the first time. Memphis ends its season with a record of 31-28.
