HOUSTON – The UAB baseball team fell to Rice in its Conference USA opener at Reckling Park, 8-7, on Friday night. The Blazers drop to 11-5, 0-1 C-USA on the season.
 
Caleb Floyd and Brandon Willoughby led the Blazers with two hits and a pair of RBIs each in the game. John Marc Mullins and Josh Sears recorded doubles in the contest.
 
Rice (6-13, 1-0- C-USA) plated three runs in the first on back-to-back home runs for the 3-0 advantage.
 
In the third, the Owls added a run on a solo homer from Aaron Smigelski, his second of the night to make it a 4-0 game.
 
With runners on second and third in the seventh, Mathew Golda hit a single out to center field to cut Rice's lead to three at 4-1. Floyd hit a bases loaded single out to left to drive in a pair of runs, making it a one-run game. UAB took its first lead of the game on a Willoughby single that brought in two. Tyler Waugh followed with a single to bring the Blazers' lead to 6-4.
 
Rice had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and brought in a run, cutting the UAB lead to one. The Owls tied up the game at six on a bases loaded walk. A single by Pierce Gallo drove in two more runs to retake the lead for Rice at 8-6.
 
Sears hit the Blazers' second double of the game in the eighth inning, bringing in John Marc Mullins from first to bring the score to the eventual final of 8-7.
 
The series continues Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Reckling Park. Fans can follow along with live stats through Sidearm Live Stats. The game will be broadcasted on CUSA.tv. This is a subscription-based service that offers a variety of packages. Click here to register for a new account.
 
Baseball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65. This exclusive offer grants admission to all UAB men's and women's soccer, volleyball, women's basketball and softball games in addition to all baseball home contests. Complete the Gold Card Request Form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
 
Single game tickets for the 2022 baseball season for games at Young Memorial Field and Regions Field are available by clicking here.
 
For more information on the UAB baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on Twitter and Instagram.