BIRMINGHAM — The UAB baseball team fell, 6-1, in the series opener to Rice on Friday night at Young Memorial Field.
 
J Paul Fullerton led the Blazers at the plate going 2-for-4. Riley Davis (4-4) took the loss after throwing 5.2 innings, while Rice starter Mitchell Holcomb (6-4) picked up the win.
 
Rice (19-26-1, 7-17-1 C-USA) opened the scoring in the first inning. Cade Edwards led off with a double and came home a batter later on a Braden Comeaux single for the 1-0 advantage.
 
The Owls added a run in the top of the second. Will Karp led off with a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and groundout. He was brought in on a Hal Hughes single for the 2-0 lead.
 
UAB (15-31, 8-17 C-USA) brought in a run in the bottom of the second. Zack Davis was hit by a pitch to get the first base runner for the Blazers. J. Fullerton hit a single that put runners on the corners with two outs. Z. Davis scored from third on a wild pitch to cut the lead to one, 2-1.
 
Rice added two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth for the 5-1 lead.
 
Right-handed pitcher Nick Wright came in with two outs in the sixth and got the final out of the inning. He came back out in the seventh and retired the side. Wright pitched a career-high two innings and allowed two hits with a strikeout.
 
Rice added an insurance run in the ninth off a solo home run by Austin Bulman, putting the Owls up by the eventual final score of 6-1.
 
The series continues with a seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. at Young Memorial Field. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+. Check the UAB baseball page for all the latest updates to the 2021 schedule.
 
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.
 
BASEBALL AT YOUNG MEMORIAL FIELD

Fans, including Gold Card holders and students, will not be permitted to attend home baseball games played at Young Memorial Field. Attendees will be limited to the player pass list and limited premium spaces.
 
Attendees will be asked to practice social distancing and wear a mask at all times per state and county ordinance.